A NEW university, an Olympic-size swimming pool and vastly improved public transport links are part of a vision of East Lancashire life in the year 2020.

The exciting developments were discussed at a major conference to suggest ways of developing the area to rival the UK and Europe's major cities.

The event, dubbed the "forum of the future", kick-started a huge campaign to map out what life could be like in East Lancashire in the millennium.

Leading figures from across the North West gazed into the future to see how East Lancashire's 500,000 population could work together to equal the major cities in terms of opportunities for education, employment, health and recreation.

John Tilley, director of East Lancashire Partnership, which organised the event at Ewood Park, said: "East Lancashire is a unique place and we have to build on it.

"I want people to have a quality of life which makes them want to stay in the area and which will make others want to come to East Lancashire.

"This is the start and is day one of progress. Ideas for a vision of the future have been put forward and we now need everybody to subscribe to a similar vision. This is a wonderful opportunity."

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