STANDING in the middle of a barren patch of wasteground right in the centre of Accrington on a cold June afternoon, it is hard to envisage hundreds of people flocking here in 12 months time when the new cinema complex opens.

For Emma Allardice, the 14-year-old schoolgirl who dreamed up the idea for the cinema two years ago, it is even harder to believe -- because she didn't even expect council bosses to take her seriously.

Then a 12-year-old Emma, of Charter Street, Accrington, sent petitions to shops, clubs and schools asking for support in her request for a cinema.

After several weeks of collecting signatures she handed over her petition to regeneration staff at Hyndburn Council -- all 40 pages of it. "I thought they would just say thank you, well done and tell me to go away," the Rhyddings High School pupil said. They didn't. Working with Globe Enterprises, a part council-owned company set up to redevelop the mill which is now the Globe Centre, officers began looking into the prospect of building a cinema. It was a tall order. There hasn't been a cinema in Accrington for 10 years.

The last one was replaced by the Arndale Centre. But this summer, thanks to constant lobbying by Emma, hard work by the council and objections to a cinema complex next to the M65 near Blackburn, the cinema is on its way -- along with a bowling complex and fast food restaurant.

The £3.5million project will provide the town with the Accrington Metro, a four-screen, 800-plus seat cinema operated by Southern-based Metroplex. Northern firm Osprey will operate the 20-lane bowling alley while McDonald's want the drive-thru. Emma said: "I can't believe it is happening. We have always had to travel out of town for things like this. Me and my friends think it is absolutely great." But the complex will do much more than provide entertainment. Regeneration bosses hope it will turn Accrington into a thriving hub of night-time activity.

Director of Hyndburn First, the borough council's regeneration wing, Nigel Rix said: "Not only are we satisfying a need which we have proved is here through extensive feasibility studies, we are also boosting the attraction of the town. We are diversifying what is on offer. "This isn't just about regenerating one part of the town. We feel the benefits will be felt by businesses across the area." For the police, the complex is great news. Hyndburn, like much of East Lancashire, suffers from juvenile nuisance. A police spokesman said: "Across the area, we are committed to help find new places for youngsters to go so they can't blame boredom for hanging around on the streets causing trouble.

"In the outlying districts we are creating skate parks or youth shelters, and this cinema development will give them something else to do to keep them out of trouble."

Harry Ballantyne, who co-ordinates crime prevention strategies for Hyndburn First, added: "We believe the diversity of choice the cinema brings with it will lead to a reduction in crime." Economically, it will generate 100 full and part time jobs.

But perhaps most important, it also brings an enthusiasm to develop in Accrington not seen since the town went into decline in the last century. Managing director of Metroplex, Phil Morgan, said: "We look forward to bringing the very best in cinema entertainment to the people of Hyndburn using the latest in cinema technology." Chairman of Osprey, the leisure firm which operates similar bowls in Morecambe and Barrow, Gerald Gosney, said: "We have been keen to invest in Accrington for some time. We are delighted to co-locate with the cinema and the restaurant."