A FORMER Victorian swimming pool has been transformed into a cutting edge creche, offices and a cafe for a Rossendale community.

The official opening of Sure Start in Bacup was carried out by David Culwick, chief executive of Spurgeon's Child Care charity on Thursday.

Sure Start, which is housed in the former Maden Baths, is a Government programme designed to deliver the best start in life for children.

The former baths in Rochdale Road will now be used as a creche, community cafe and offices.

The baths were closed in 1995 and had been empty until English Heritage and Rossendale Council invested £1.25million to help Sure Start turn it into a state of the art facility.

Work on the refurbishment started in October 2003 and was completed earlier this summer by award wining local construction and development company The Hurstwood Group.

Because the former pool was in a conservation area special attention had to paid to ensure the building's original character was left intact.

The company's group commercial director Dominic Fussell was a guest at the official opening.

He said: "Maden Baths means a lot to the people of the area.

"And I feel we have turned it back into a building that Rossendale people can once again be proud of." Hurstwood's Andy Stewart, who was the senior project quantity surveyor, throughout the redevelopment phase, added: "It was a hugely complex and time consuming conversion. We have managed to retain the character of the Victorian building but given Sure Start the 21st century home they required.

"Inside, the Sure Start offices are ultra modern but they have been fused with the traditional features of the original building.

"The double-hipped roof has been completely restored, the stonework cleaned and specialised leadwork has been carried out. It was a demanding project but we are pleased with the end result."