A £450,000 project to provide a resource centre for voluntary organisations throughout Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, has taken another major step forward as contractors began renovation work on the premises.

Dorothy Lowe, chief officer of the Council for Voluntary Service which won National Lottery funding for the scheme, handed over the keys of the former Water Board offices in Yorkshire Street, Burnley, to a representative of Rossendale contractors, B and E Boyes.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of community and voluntary organisations which are partners in the project.

The centre, bought for £120,000 from North West Water earlier this year, will be home to a variety of community groups from across East Lancashire when it opens at the end of March next year.

Apart from the £437,000 National Lottery cash, awarded in March last year, extra funding has come from Lancashire County Council social services, Burnley Council, East Lancashire Health Authority and the Council for Voluntary Service.

Project manager Ruth Passman said: "The new centre will be a great resource for the people of East Lancashire.

"This major renovation work is the penultimate step in establishing a centre of which we can all be proud."

The National Lottery grant covered the purchase, renovation and three year running and staffing costs of the two-storey stone premises.

The building was erected by the council in 1902 for just £6,000.

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