BURNLEY'S council leader has welcomed £500,000 plans to turn the town's railway station into a space-age showpiece.

"It's wonderful news. It shows the enthusiasm people have for Burnley," Councillor Stuart Caddy said.

Lancashire County Council has already agreed to spend £200,000 on rebuilding Central Station. Now, a bid for a further £234,000 has been made to the Strategic Rail Authority to fund a total refit and a county council report says that officers believe the bid to the SRA has been successful.

Councillor Caddy said: "The railway station would support the new bus station and would represent very welcome investment in the town.

"It backs the money the council is putting into Burnley and would hopefully encourage many more people to come into the town. It's just what we need after all the good work that has been done over the past year."

Rita Walsh, secretary of Burnley and District Chamber of Trade, added: "A new station would be a very attractive addition to Burnley and I'm sure it would encourage many more people to use it.

"But we would hope that when it is finished it will be manned. It gives people a sense of security and reassurance. With the new bus station, though, we hope it will bring more people into Burnley's shopping centre."

Money will also come from the borough council, First North Western and the East Lancashire Partnership to help fund the scheme.

Last year, the county council approved a £50,000 study into the future of the railway station. It said that since it was built in 1960, large parts of the station had become "dark, empty and threatening" for passengers.

The futuristic station would have a new ticket office and improved waiting area, better access for disabled people and a CCTV system.