A TOWN centre management team which has attracted 29 new businesses in the past 12 months could disappear in three months unless funding is found.

Hundreds of new jobs have been created over the past year in Burnley but assistant town centre manager Ian Stackhouse warned that European funding was coming to an end and the team had sourced every possible route of funding.

They are now approaching private businesses.

New retailers who have moved into town include TK Maxx, Internacionale/Au Naturale, Klaussner Furniture and Allied Carpets while Luminar Leisure has taken over the Iron Works Nightclub and Chicago Rock Cafe in Hammerton Street as well as developing new pub the Orange House.

London-based company Obar Limited has also spent £1million revamping the Afterlife bar and nightclub in Red Lion Street.

High street names such as New Look, Sainsbury's and Specsavers have expanded and moved into larger premises.

Only a handful of retailers have left town including Co-op Pioneer, Brewsters and Dawsons Music.

Sales figures for December from ten major retailers in the town centre show a four per cent increase in the four weeks of last month compared to the previous year.

Three crime initiatives have also helped make the town a safer place including BEAT IT -- Burnley Exclusion Against Thieves In Town, which targets shoplifters; Thumbs Up -- a credit card and cheque fraud scheme and BAND -- Burnley Against Nighttime Disorder, a pub watch scheme which has banned 52 people from all town centre pubs and clubs for serious incidents or violent behaviour.

In November the town centre management team launched its own distinctive website www.burnley.towntalk.co.uk to provide shoppers, businesses and potential investors with information.