A NEW tourist kiosk in Colne will boost Pendle's visitor industry and create jobs, according to councillors.

The Discover Pendle Centre, which will be located on the new Bound-ary Mill car park, will have an online booking facility, a video display screen, and leaflets.

Council bosses are hoping the centre will offer those visiting Boundary Mill, which is due to relocate to a new store in March next year, the chance too see what else Pendle has to offer.

The centre, which will cost around £75,000 to fit out, will be open seven days a week.

Five or six members of staff will run the centre and will be employed by Libra Textiles, which is behind the Boundary Mill.

Pendle Council has also made a bid for additional funding of £30,000 from the Blackpool Tourist Board - the outcome of which should be known soon.

Around 100 new jobs will be created when the new £30million store opens in Vivary Way.

The existing site in Corporation Street will be replaced with a DIY store.

Libra Textiles will meet the running costs, with the council funding the setting up of the centre, as part of the planning conditions for the new Boundary Mill. The council will also be responsible for on-going staffing costs.

Boundary Mill started 25 years ago selling lengths of cloth.

Today the firm, which has five stores nationwide and attracts coach parties from all over the region, has helped put Colne on the map and employs 800 people in Pendle.

Coun Frank Wren, who represents tourism in Pendle, said: "Boundary Mill gets two-and-a-half million visitors per year from outside the area.

"Putting a Discover Pendle Centre there is surely a wonderful way to show them everything else that Pendle has to offer.

"We hope it will encourage them to stay longer and see more of our beautiful borough - and spend some more of their tourism pounds here."