A FORMER Victorian railway hotel transformed in a £1.1 million project is set to re-open its doors next week.

The Station Hotel pub, Nelson, has undergone a massive refurbishment after being bought by pub chain J D Wetherspoon earlier this year.

The pub operator has spent the past four months developing the Station which has been closed to allow the work to go ahead.

Twenty full and part-time jobs will be created at the pub, which is keeping its name, when it re-opens on Wednesday.

Pictures, photographs and other memorabilia relating to the history of the listed town centre building and characters of the area will be displayed in the pub, together with paintings by local people which were commissioned by Wetherspoon.

The Station will be managed by John Clayton who was previously at another Wetherspoon pub in the North East.

"I'm looking forward to welcoming people into the pub," said John. "I'm confident that people in the town will be impressed with the transformation of the building and pleased to see it back in use once again.

"I believe the Station Hotel will appeal to a wide range of people who enjoy a drink and meal in quiet and comfortable surroundings."