AMBITIOUS council bosses are bidding for European money to help turn Accrington into a tourist attraction.

And the plans for the town, famous for Accrington Stanley and the Accrington Pals, have received encouragement from the North West Tourist Board.

Bill Huntly, town centre manager, said the town was bidding for cash from the European Regional Development Fund in an attempt to provide facilities that would pull tourists in.

"We are having a crack at it," he said.

"There are no guarantees and we are only at the stage of seeing if there are ways we can get a number of similar initiatives tied in with this, including Days Out in Accrington."

The Days Out idea was raised at a meeting of the Town Centre Assembly last month when Mr Huntly said Accrington should take advantage of the opening of the redeveloped market and shopping area later this year to target tourists.

One idea was a tour of the town to show people around some of the historic sites including the Haworth Art Gallery, the Town Hall and, possibly, taking in the town's famous Accrington Stanley football ground.

Other suggestions included the development of a heritage centre with memorials to the Accrington Pals.

North West Tourist Board figures revealed that more than six million day visitors came to East Lancashire in 2000, staying between three and 24 hours.

Earlier this month news of Accrington's tourism aspirations reached Blackpool where councillors and tourism bosses wished the town luck.

"It's terribly early days but we are just putting together various possibilities that could be included in the bid. It would have to be matched by other public sector funding," said Mr Huntly.

Acting council leader Jean Battle said: "I think we should boost tourism in the town. Accrington is full of history. We are hopeful and it would be a good thing for the economy of Hyndburn as a whole."

Anthony Goldstone, chairman of the North West Tourist Board, said Accrington's plans should form part of a wider scheme to capitalise on visitors coming into the whole of Lancashire .

"Accrington has to see what it has got that is of benefit for a tourist coming to Lancashire.

"They should use the success stories in the rest of the county, whether it's Blackpool or the Ribble Valley, and make certain there's something attractive in the town, like interesting shops or a market.

"Accrington Stanley are top of the UniBond League and could go up to the Conference.

"If they get in they may attract up to 400 people from outside. If you have a good shopping centre, market and eating places, those people will spend a bit of money in Accrington."

The outcome of the application should be known by the end of April.