A BIT of London glamour is to be brought to Accrington as a popular nightclub venue opens its doors after a £700,000 facelift.

Mick Cookson, the boss of the newly-revamped Voodoo Lounge, which was ravaged by a fire in 2004, said he is ‘overjoyed’ with the refit.

The over-21s club and bar in Willow Street was closed after the major blaze just before Christmas.

It suffered further water damage when thieves stole slate tiles from the building’s roof.

But now Mr Cookson said the venue is once again ‘fabulous’ and a VIP opening is being held on Wednesday.

The club, which features a Chandelier Lounge, 3D-effect mirrors and crystal-cut panels, will be opened to the public on Thursday.

“It has taken us a lot of hard work and time but we have finally got here and the result is absolutely fantastic.

“We have ended up with something really chic and a place where people will definitely have a good time,” said Mr Cookson.

Mr Cookson said more than 30 jobs, including office workers, cleaners and bar staff, had been created in the borough.

“The town has been dying and people have been really struggling but now with the return of this club it will breath new life into Accrington,” said Mr Cookson.

In March last year, a break-in where tools and stone flags, worth hundreds of pounds were stolen, delayed the refurbishment of the nightspot.

Mr Cookson, who also owns Posh nightclub in Burnley, said: “It was a setback, but we were determined it wouldn’t hold us back for long.

"Now we have shown that this renovation has been an absolute success.”

Fire ripped through the three-storey building, formerly called Opium, in December 2004 after a suspected electrical fault.