A 'GHOST village' abandoned by the children's charity which created it 100 years ago is to be brought back to life.

The Crowthorn School complex is to be changed into a new community, with emphasis on affordable housing for people in the area around Edgworth who would otherwise have to move further away to find houses they could buy.

There are currently 30 buildings on the site, and many of them will be converted into the 23 houses, 14 apartments and 20 'live/work' units the developer plans to create on the site.

The site's existing tennis courts, playing fields, pavilion and open spaces will be restored to provide community facilities, while a group of workshops will also be created to try to generate employment at the Broadhead Road community.

Several buildings, including the old school's swimming pool, will be pulled down to open up views.

Coun Jean Rigby told Blackburn with Darwen planners: "I am pleased this development is taking place, especially the provision of affordable housing.

"The old school site has been empty since 2002 and I think it is fortunate that it is such a remote area, otherwise vandalism would have been a problem.

"It has been eerie driving past it, especially because just a couple of lights have been left in the houses. It has been something of a ghost village."

NCH Action for Children sold the site last year for £7million, having closed it in 2002 citing financial and staffing difficulties.

The charity said it received 12 offers for the site ranging between £3million and £7million and eventually sold to Cheshire-based property developer August Blake.

The new homes will be sold to local people first, and only be available to people outside a 10km radius if there are any left after that.

The Edgworth children's home opened in 1872 and become the first National Children's Home to be established outside London.

It was renamed Crowthorn in 1952 when it became a school for children with special needs as well.

The original home's founder was Rev Dr Thomas Bowman Stephenson, whose vision was a place in the countryside that would provide the children who lived there with fresh air, a healthy lifestyle, a stable home and sound education.

The home became a self-contained village with its own butcher's shop, bakery, herd of cattle, stonemason, hospital, chapel - even its own quarry. The youngsters lived in surrounding houses.

Former pupils include actress Shirley Anne Field, whose films include Alfie, with Michael Caine, The Entertainer with Sir Laurence Olivier, and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, with Albert Finney.