A GROUP of artists commissioned to create a 'sculpture trail' have been given a base in Bacup by the council.

A former shop in St James Street, which has been empty for some time, will serve as a town centre presence for the group and possibly open to the public for one day each week.

The 'First Out' scheme will work in Bacup until Easter, producing sculptures with local schools and the community, culminating in an exhibition in the town.

The group will be allowed to use the unoccupied shop as a base on the understanding they will vacate if an owner is found.

Funding for the sculpture trail, which follows the River Irwell from its source in Weir to Salford, has been provided by the National Lottery Arts Council for a further year, after which it is hoped to find other sources to continue the project.

A meeting of Rossendale Borough Council's corporate policy committee gave their agreement to the group being allowed to stay at the site, rent free, until March 31.

Coun Graham Pearson said: "The empty building had been causing concern, so we feel it would be better to let it be used.

"We believe this is a far more positive policy than allowing it to stay empty until someone comes along with proposals for occupation".