A NEW Blackburn day centre which will provide services to older people with dementia has been opened by councillor Maureen Bateson.

Hopwood Court Resource Centre will offer activities to keep people's minds active, including reading the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Copies of the newspaper will be available so elderly people can keep up to date with what is going on in their neighbourhood. Centre manager David Kerambrum, from social services, said: "Talking about current events and memories is a good way of helping people to preserve their memory.

"Using local papers, like the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, and national papers keeps people aware of what's going on.

"We also have a memory room. Using old pictures of the town as a basis for discussion is good for the mind."