A DEVELOPER is being sought to turn a rural 'ghost village' into a thriving community.

NCH Action For Children closed down the Crowthorn School complex, near Edgworth, last summer -- more than 100 years after the village-style complex was first built as a children's home.

The fee-paying school dates back to the 19th century and was attended by actress Shirley Anne Field.

The site, which covers 24.4 acres, includes 19 properties dotted around the area where Broadhead Road and Moorside Road meet.

They are currently empty and now Blackburn with Darwen Council has drawn up a 'development brief' to help lure building firms on to the site and turn it into a thriving community.

The brief, which has won approval from councillors, lists what sort of uses which would be suitable for each of the buildings.

It is thought about 50 dwellings could be accommodated within certain existing buildings, with others being given over to redevelopment for commercial uses, such as offices or workshops for small firms.

One building has also been suggested as a possible pub, while other community facilities, such as a swimming pool, already exist.

At a meeting of the planning and highways committee, councillors were told the development brief would provide developers with an idea of what would be acceptable on the site.

Adam Scott, director of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said it was hoped the existence of the brief, coupled with a marketing exercise by the owners, would lead to a lot of interest at the site.

He said: "The general objective of this brief is to achieve a comprehensive development, with a mixture of new uses for the existing building and improved use of open space at the site.

"The brief calls for the buildings to be redeveloped through re-use of the existing buildings, as a mixed use development combining commercial, residential and community uses."

Coun Jean Rigby, Conservative spokesman on planning, said: "As the local councillor here, I am pleased that action is being taken to make sure it doesn't become derelict. It has become a bit of a ghost village and what is pleasing is that local people have been consulted all the way through."