ACCRINGTON'S nightlife is set to get a massive £1million boost with the news that the Opium club is to reopen.

The nightclub, on Willow Street, has been closed since fire struck more than a year ago.

But now Opium boss Mick Cookson said he was almost ready to begin work to bring the club back to life.

After a year of negotiations with the nightspot's insurance company, Mr Cookson said he now hopes to have the money in place to begin work at the site in the next few weeks.

He said that the venue, which employed 40 full and part-time staff, could then re-open within four months.

Mr Cookson, who also owns Posh nightclub in Burnley, said: "I am definitely looking to reopen.

"I don't want the people of Accrington to think that I have abandoned them. I am keen get back into the town."

The news comes after Accrington businessmen Mohammed Mukhtar and Thair Iqbal announced plans to create a new nightclub by converting the Almost Christmas shop in Church Street and the warehouse behind it.

Mr Cookson has helped Mr Mukhtar and Mr Iqbal with the designs for their club.

Currently there is only one nightclub in the town, Lar-de-dars in Eagle Street.

Fire ravaged the three- storey Opium building in December 2004 after a suspected electrical fault.

The three-storey building currently has no roof and in addition to the fire damage it has been extensively blighted by rainwater.

He is considering renaming the business and is thinking of calling it Posh after the Burnley club.