A COLLEGE principal tonight told students to take advantage of the future transformation of the area under new Pennine Lancashire banner.

Kevin McMahon, principal at St Mary's College, Blackburn, said the chance was one that "cannot be missed" and urged youngsters to be at the centre of the new vision for the region.

The plans to regenerate the region under the branding of Pennine Lancashire were promoted by legendary music promoter Anthony Wilson, who died earlier this year.

Speaking at St Mary's annual presentation night Mr McMahon said: "It is not dramatising the situation to say that the investment in infrastructure, employment and image over the next few years offers this region a chance that we cannot afford to miss to offer our communities opportunities to develop better skills, better jobs and better lives.

"Our schools and colleges are central to the success of that vision, and, I believe, are well placed to pay their part."

He also praised the development at the college over the last year which he called "breathtakingly inspiring".

He said: "Now the college has taken possession of two outstanding new specialist facilities. In September, we opened the Graystone Science Centre, a superb building housing 10 laboratories that offer St Mary's students the very best resources, befitting their studies.

"Then just last Friday the second new build was handed over to the college. This is the Performing Arts Centre, and houses a two-hundred seat theatre, two drama studios, a dance studio, music and music technology classrooms, rehearsal rooms and live studio.

"Little wonder that there has been such a surge of interest in studying one or more of the performing arts subjects in the new academic year in September."