BLACKBURN'S historic Corporation Park is to be restored to its former glory after a £2.775million lottery windfall was announced today.

For campaigners who have been fighting for improvements to the park, the announcement is a victory over the vandals and arsonists who threatened to wreck the bid.

The park, off Preston New Road, is listed as one of the 10 most important town parks in the country by English Heritage, the national group which campaigns to preserve Britain's past.

But it has been subjected to repeated arson attacks. The park, which opened in 1857 and contains a number of listed buildings.

The Heritage Lottery Fund announced nearly two years ago that it wanted to approve the application from Blackburn with Darwen Council and the park support group, and asked for detailed plans on what would happen inside the Victorian park.

During the restoration of the park, due to be completed in 2006, the layout will be repaired and other features, such as the ornamental lakes and the entrance archway on to Preston New Road, will be renovated.

The park is already home to the annual Arts in the Park and Asian Mela festivals.

Chairman of the Corporation Park Supporters Group Pam Simon added: "This is wonderful news for Corporation Park and the town as a whole.

"The council has done an enormous amount of work to ensure that this grant was received and the park supporters group is extremely thrilled.

She added: "We've had to overcome a lot in the last couple of years. Vandals and arsonists have made life difficult for us, but despite that, the lottery can see how good the project is."

Coun Kate Hollern, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for leisure and culture said: "This is the result of months of hard work by council officers and the Corporation Park Supporters Group. Events such as Arts in the Park and the Mela will benefit from being held in a refurbished park in such a beautiful setting."

She added that the council had been able to demonstrate in its proposals that the park was very popular and the majority of people were proud of it.

A park manager will be employed when the revamp is completed and will be tasked with creating a range of activities to improve use of the park.

All 90 schools in Blackburn with Darwen have been consulted about an education programme which result in more youngsters using the park.

Tony Jones, Heritage Lottery Manager for the North West, said: "The revitalisation of Corporation Park will make a tremendous difference to the borough, providing a renewed focus for regeneration and bringing local people together to enjoy their historic park."

The park is also set to be home of one of East Lancashire's six Panopticon sculptures, which will be placed around the area to attract new visitors.

Ward councillor Paul McGurty said: "There is no doubt that this is great news for our community and, needless to, say the people of Blackburn.

"But this sort of investment needs to be sustainable without the constant threat of mindless vandalism like we have seen in recent months. This park is an asset to the people of Blackburn."