A WEEK is a long time in politics, but an all-night sitting in Parliament is even worse!

Students at Bury's new adult education centre might have been forgiven for thinking so, after Education Secretary Ruth Kelly failed to turn up for its official opening on Friday.

Mrs Kelly was otherwise detained, as the Government needed all its troops to ensure the safe passage of its controversial anti-terrorist laws. Her team made her apologies, and hope that the visit can be re-arranged.

The £630,000 centre, in the former Halifax building in Haymarket Street, opened in January and has been jointly funded by Bury Council and Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council. Courses have moved from the Arts and Crafts Centre, which required £1.4 million of improvements and will be turned into a museum celebrating the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Mrs Kelly would have been the second cabinet minister to view the centre, following last month's visit by Paul Boateng MP, chief secretary to the Treasury. The Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillors Barry and Sharon Briggs, stepped into the breach and chatted to the students.