A TOURIST centre has welcomed 50,000th visitors in its first six months open.

Visitors have poured through the doors of the Discover Pendle Gateway to Lancashire Centre, in Colne, since it opened for business in May.

And the 50,000th guest, Carl Donnelly, with his wife Nicola from Worsley, Greater Manchester, said the centre, at the Boundary Mill store in Vivary Way, had opened their eyes.

Carl said “We are absolutely delighted to be the 50,000th visitors to the centre.

“We came on a shopping trip to Boundary Mill as a birthday treat, but decided to pop in here. We were surprised looking around the centre that there is so much to see and do in Pendle.

“It has really opened our eyes.”

Coun Allan Buck, Pendle Council’s executive member for tourism, said: “The fact that we have had 50,000 visitors since we opened the Discover Pendle Centre only a matter of months ago shows what a phenomenal success the place has been.

“It is certainly more than fulfilling its role of making visitors aware of all the exciting opportunities that Pendle has to offer, and by doing this, supporting our local businesses.”