BRITISH Red Cross is to open a £250,000 training centre and district office for East Lancashire.

The new centre will be in Manchester Road, Burnley, and will open later this year.

Thirty locally-based volunteers will deliver all British Red Cross services providing help with problems such as mobility, health, social and care needs.

Over 1,000 people are expected to use the services in the first year, including the elderly, people with disabilities, low income groups, members of the ethnic communities, unemployed and young people.

It is the first centre of its kind in East Lancashire.

A spokesman for the Lancashire branch said main services would include medical equipment loan, first aid at public events, transport and escort, therapeutic care, skin camouflage, emergency respite for carers and youth services.

In addition, on-going research will be carried out to identify needs that are not currently being met and look for ways to respond to those problems.

Volunteers will also be available to support the statutory services in the event of any major incident.

The training centre will offer a full range of first aid at work and health and safety related courses including the statutory four-day and two-day certificated courses.

First aid training for the public, as well as training in the use of defibrillators, will also be available.

The spokesperson added that the facilities would also be available for other community groups and charitable organisations to use subject to availability and arrangement with local management.

As well as helping people in this country, British Red Cross also actively supports international appeals at times of disaster or crisis.