A MASSIVE Blackburn sports complex is set to open its doors in November and bosses have promised to treat residents who protested against the development.

Workmen are putting the finishing touches to the 150,000 square feet JJB "soccerdome" in Guide which will have 11 indoor pitches made from an artificial grass surface, a huge members only fitness suite, pool, hot spas, a sauna as well as a restaurant and bar area.

Residents living nearby formed the Save Guide Village and Fields group and opposed the plans before they were passed by Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways department.

As part of the opening week JJB said it was considering offering some villagers VIP passes for the complex.

JJB was formed by former Blackburn Rovers full back Dave Whelan, whose playing career was ended by a bone-shattering tackle during the 1960 FA cup final at Wembley.

The company is planning a special opening ceremony that will see Mr Whelan re-united with some of his former team mates. The soccerdome is only the fourth of its kind to be built by JJB, who made profits of over £20million in the first six months of last year.

But Pat Kennedy, secretary of Save Guide Village and Fields, said: "It is such a large building and unsympathetic to the surrounding area. I shouldn't think a VIP day out would make a lot of difference to people up here because we are going to have to live with it forever."

JJB is yet to start taking applications for members and aaded its price list was still to be decided.

At a similar venue in Wigan membership for a fitness club costs either £30 or £20 a month.