PENDLE councillors have commissioned a report to help secure the future of the borough's most popular tourist attraction.

The Heritage Trust for the North West warned the council last week that the long-term future of the Pendle Heritage Centre was under threat because of cuts in council funding.

But a report to the council executive will be drawn up to provide details of lease arrangements and a possible service level agreement.

Under it, the centre could be paid for the services it provides.

The council's budget for the next financial year has slashed funding for the centre to just £10,000.

It was £62,000 a year when the centre was established three years ago.

Heritage Trust for the North West chairman Ted Stanworth wrote to the council's executive last week stating that the cut in funding could jeopardise the long-term future of the trust's involvement with the Pendle Heritage Centre.

He explained that the charity could not take money from other projects to support its work at the centre.

The centre buildings, at Park Hill, are owned by the council, but were renovated by the Trust, which now runs the tourist information service at the site and attracts 100,000 visitors a year.

The resolution to the financial crisis is likely to come through the implementation of a service level agreement, which will detail the services the Trust provides and the amount the council will pay.

Trust director John Miller said: "I understand the council is going to look at the funding and all aspects of the service the centre gives to the borough during the next financial year to ensure it is secured. We are confident everyone will arrive at a sensible solution."

Coun Davies said: "Because of the shortfall in the settlement from the Government there's nothing we can do for the current year but the intention is to spend a few months talking about a service level agreement.

"The tourist information service used to be run by the council and cost £28,000 a year when it was transferred, which would be more now."