THE man behind an £8million gardening complex today dispelled rumours it would be turned into a leisure complex -- and declared profits were up by 40 per cent.

Lancashire Homes and Gardens, a joint venture between husband and wife Ged and Joanne Clark and developer Michael Foy, has been at the centre of the rumours for some months.

Mr Clark said he has been inundated with queries about the company losing money and changing into a pub and restaurant complex which he has dismissed as "total nonsense."

Around 180 people are currently employed at the home and garden centre which sells everything from garden furniture to household items.

Mr Clark, who describes the centre as Haslingden's equivalent to 'John Lewis' said: "It's total nonsense.

"We are 40 per cent up in relation to our expected forecast which has far exceeded our expectations.

"We have never planned or never plan to change it into a leisure complex this is not the right site for something like that."

Bosses at the seven acre centre, situated off the A56, applied to Rossendale Council's licensing department before it opened in April to get permission to sell alcohol in the bar/restaurant area.

Mr Clark added: "We don't know if somebody has seen this and then presumed we are planning on turning it into something else but that is not the case."

He added: "To date we have spent nearly £8 million on the complex, we are not going to throw that away and start again with something else when there just isn't the market for it."

Mr Clark, added: "This is a garden centre and that is how it will stay. We would like the rumours to stop now that people know the truth. It's not very nice for the staff who have to keep listening to these rumours."