HOME Secretary Jack Straw did the honours in opening a new hotel near Ewood Park, Blackburn.

The Blackburn MP opened the Star Lodge, a £1.6 million development next to the Fernhurst pub in Bolton Road and was impressed to learn the development by Thwaites Brewery has created 30 full-time jobs. "I applaud the foresight of Thwaites Brewery for choosing to invest in this project and wish it every success in the future," he said.

The new hotel, along with the Fernhurst pub, will be run by Mark and Julie Norman, also pictured.