THE award-winning Globe Centre in Accrington is to be officially opened by Margaret Beckett MP, President of the Board of Trade, on Monday.

Mrs Beckett will unveil a plaque and tour the office and conference centre which has injected new life and jobs into the former Howard and Bullough works.

Coun George Slynn, one of the directors of Globe Enterprises, said: "It is evidence of the Globe's national significance that a cabinet minister has accepted an invitation to open the building.

"It is a great honour, putting Hyndburn on the map as a prime business and enterprise location."

The building, which dominates Accrington's skyline and once employed 8,000, was rescued from dereliction by a partnership of private investors and Hyndburn borough council. Local entrepreneur Stuart Nevison, Barnfield Construction and the council transformed the building into an enterprise centre, with the aid of central government and European funding.

Three hundred people are employed in the Globe, which includes a restaurant, brasserie and hotel run by Accrington and Rossendale College, Airtours offices, communications and computing companies, a Business Link outlet and the East Lancashire Partnership.

The Globe will be almost completely let by December and Mrs Beckett will be shown plans for a five-storey extension to the centre, three floors of which have been let.

Work has begun on this part of the development and is expected to be complete towards the end of next year.

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