BURNLEY Mechanics was the very symbol of Burnley's civic pride -- a £3million arts and entertainment centre which won international acclaim as the home of the town's once-renowned National Blues Festival.

Now, as part of massive council cuts, it is set to partially close and jobs might be lost. RALPH MARSHALL takes a look at the venue's history.

BURNLEY'S flagship theatre complex, like the blues festival itself, went into decline, with falling customer numbers. Years of losses prompted cuts in the bars and catering services.

This week council bosses, in the midst of a cash crisis, delivered another major hammer blow -- announcing the cultural and tourism centre would become a performance-only venue, closed daytimes to save £90,000 a year.

The partial closure, which could mean the loss of 10 jobs, was the most high-profile of the cuts announced by council finance chief Coun Peter Kenyon in this year's budget savings package.

But it was met almost with a sigh of relief -- because the council's ruling Labour group's much heralded earlier option was complete closure of the centre to save £400,000. That suggestion brought howls of public protest and a petition demanding the flagship centre be kept afloat.

A citizens' survey on budget cut options showed that saving the Mechanics was their highest priority -- if something had to go, Gannow Baths or local-after school playgroups should be sacrificed first.

In the event, Labour chiefs decided to save Gannow and the playgroups -- and half close the Mechanics.

Their decision means that from July, the doors will only open for performances; bars and catering will be further cut back; the tourism centre will have to find a new home and visitor numbers to the Mid Pennine Arts Gallery, below the Mechanics, are likely to plummet.

It is a far cry from the heady days of 1988, when after years of planning and fund-raising, Labour leaders set about massive improvements to the dilapidated and rain-soaked former Mechanics Institute building which in recent years had been used as a casino and bingo hall. The £3million project won national design awards and put Burnley council at the forefront of local authority arts and entertainment in the North.

Even in decline, the council last year announced an ambitious plan for major £6million renewal of the theatre complex -- but cash for the project never materialised and the council was instead left looking for ways to cut costs.

Mid Pennine director Nick Hunt described the part closure decision as unfortunate.

"People will be less aware of the gallery being open and it will affect awareness and attendance at all the other services we provide."

He added that Mid Pennine had no plans to move home, but added it would wait and see how things developed.

Even when delivering the budget blow Coun Kenyon expressed personal regret over the cut back and said he looked forward the the day when the glory days could return.