BUSINESS chiefs are rubbing their hands together in anticipation at the news that Blackburn is set to become the next boom shopping town in the North West.

A survey of the top 100 shopping centres in England does not include Blackburn - but experts still predict an economic growth period .

The town finished 143rd in the project, carried out by chartered surveyors Hillier Parker.

Stephen Johnson, spokesman for Hillier Parker, said: "In Blackburn's case, it's not that the town has gone backwards but other places have just become bigger and better during the last 10 years."

But shoppers are in for a treat, according to Councillor Ashley Whalley, chairman of Blackburn Council's economic development committee.

He said: "The results don't surprise me at all. Though there hasn't been enough investment in Blackburn over the last few years - and a slack local economy will not attract major retailers - we've changed all that.

"Now there are more jobs, lower unemployment and higher investment. Within two years, Blackburn will be competing with Preston and Bolton and will be the next boom town."

Blackburn failed to make any inroads on targeted rivals, Preston and Bolton, who both featured highly at 41st and 49th place respectively.

The Manchester-based surveyors' results were based on how many major, non-food, national high street retailers each of the 1,4000 towns and cities contained.

Despite the findings, Blackburn Shopping Centre manager Allan Caster is optimistic about the future. He said: "I don't read too much into results like these.

"This survey has come too soon for Blackburn. If it had been done in 18 months time, I'm sure we would have made the top 100.

"We're a one-stop complex and offer shoppers a wide range of choice and excellent shopping facilities. We know how well we treat our shoppers."

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