Blackburn town centre will be transformed into a 'Winter Wonderland' this Christmas season thanks to a giant tipi.

The three-peaked 30-metre tent complex will be put up in Cathedral Square and host live music and entertainment, festive markets, a bar, a firepit, barbecue, and dancefloor plus a Santa’s Grotto for families.

The attraction will be masterminded by the team from Blackburn's The Firepit 'cook your own steak' restaurant in One Cathedral Square and supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Work on building the giant tipis - which have proved a success in other town and city centres - will start shortly ready for an official opening date scheduled for Friday, November 17.

The final day will be New Year's Eve.

Council bosses hope the attraction will prove more successful than the authority's ill-fated bid to bring a Manchester-style Christmas Market to Blackburn town centre in 2018, which was dropped after just one wind and rain ruined year.

The ‘Firepit Tipis’ will feature as part of the council’s ‘Discover Blackburn with Darwen this Christmas’ campaign encouraging people to stay local this festive season.

Both have received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Andy Novak, co-owner of the Firepit restaurants group, said: “Cathedral Quarter will be transformed into a true Winter Wonderland this Christmas with the huge Firepit Tipi.

“We approached the council with our idea a few months back as we want to make Blackburn the go-to place this Christmas and wanted to offer something special.

“It’ll feel so festive inside with Christmas decorations, fairy lights, seating areas, a bar, barbecue, dancefloor and, of course, a firepit too.

“We hosted something very similar in Rawtenstall and it was a huge success and now we’re working hard to make Blackburn’s even bigger and better.

“We wanted to do something really festive that will draw people to our town centre to support local businesses and also save residents the expense of travelling to big cities.

“The tipi will also be open throughout the day with family fun including festive activities and workshops, choir singing, performances and special visits from Father Christmas.

“We want to attract people into Blackburn town centre and encourage them to make a day of it.”

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council's growth boss, said: “The Firepit Tipi will be a brilliant draw for visitors this Christmas.

“It’ll transform the beautiful Cathedral Quarter into a Winter Wonderland – bringing people into our town centre this festive season, supporting businesses right across the area.

“We’re also looking forward to the launch of our new 'Discover Christmas in Blackburn with Darwen' campaign.

“It’ll promote just how much there is to see and do here from the latest Christmas films at the REEL Cinema to our panto at King George’s Hall, ice skating, new bars, new places to eat, big name brands for shopping and a great selection of independents too."

His Conservative shadow Cllr Paul Marrow said: "Last year's Christmas offering from the council was distinctly lacklustre and it needed to do something inventive to boost footfall.

"Let's hope it is more successful than the 2018 Christmas Markets and the weather is better."