AN EAST Lancashire tourist attraction has smashed previous records for visitor numbers.

Oswaldtwistle Mills, in Collier Street, has already reached the 2002 total of one million visitors, and bosses expect the final figure for this year to reach 1.5million.

The news follows 12 years of investment since the arts, crafts and historical centre opened in 1991, with sales up 30 per cent this year, and visitor numbers increasing year on year. Crowds have also been boosted by £5,000 improvements at Church and Oswaldtwistle train station, paid for by the mill itself.

The money joins Lancashire County Council cash that will see £100,000 spent on installing CCTV cameras, to be linked to the mill's own camera system, as well as daily inspections and frequent litter patrols.

David Roberts, business development manager, said: "Advance coach bookings for 2004 are well ahead of this time last year, attracting some of the biggest names in the industry such as Wallace Arnold, Shearings, National Holidays and Caledonian Tours, to name but a few.

"We have visitors from the length and breadth of the country, from as far afield as Lincoln, Nottingham, County Durham and Carlisle."

East Lancashire Partnership chief executive Dennis Taylor said: "This initiative serves as an outstanding example of what can be achieved when true partnership is at work.

"We are pleased with the success of this project as it raises the profile of East Lancashire and boosts its commercial and tourism potential."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "This is more than good news. They have worked very hard. It has been a major development, employing a lot of people, and bringing in a lot of business."