WORK on a new £800,000 community centre started this week -- with councillors promising that everyone in their area will benefit.

Councillors Mohammed Khan, Maureen Rishton and Ronald O'Keeffe dug deep to mark the start of building work for the centre, which is on Green Lane, Blackburn.

The existing centre, which is in a poor condition, will be pulled down once the new centre opens in September.

The new centre will include an all-day nursery and creche, a craft room, a dedicated working room for young people who are currently unable to access training and education skills, an information technology suite, a community caf to be run by local people as a small business and a multi-purpose hall.

The council will also host a range of initiatives at the centre designed to improve health, raise confidence and self-esteem, all of which it has received grant funding for.

Business advice and support will also be offered to up-and-coming businesses in the area.

It will be the home for one of the first wave of Children's Centres being provided across the borough.

They act as one stop shop for parents to access facilities for youngsters, and is part of the council's pledge of free places for all pre-school youngsters.

Councillor Maureen Rishton, Meadowhead ward councillor, said: "This centre has been long awaited and involved intense lobbying for European funding, but we are delighted with the results.

"The community development staff and members of the community have lots of great ideas which have contributed to the whole scheme, including the provision of Lifelong Learning, Early Years and Sure Start services, to ensure the children of this area have the best start possible that we can give them.

"We are also hoping to increase the catchment area and involve more users from the wider area."

Councillor Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhood services said: "The impact of this excellent new resource will be felt in this area, which although faced with its own challenges has proven through this remarkable success, that positive local people can make their own lives, those of the rest of the community and the future of the area better by pursuing such an ambitious venture."

Funding for the project has come from several sources, including Government, European and council cash.