THE future of Earby Youth Hostel hangs in the balance after meetings to determine the future of the historic building.

"Nothing is finalised by a long way, but things are looking more positive than they were a couple weeks ago," said Councillor Chris Tennant, chairman of both Earby Town Council and the Friends of Earby Youth Hostel.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) have confirmed they will no longer run the hostel from January 31, 2017.

Cllr Tennant said: "They're just walking away from it and for any new managers to try a become a YHA-affiliated hostel they would be required to meet certain standards, so its future would have to be an independent hostel."

Pendle Council, who still own the hostel, and Earby Town Council are now determining the best way forward, and Cllr Tennant is pleased by some recent developments.

He said: "Two people have expressed an interest in running it as an independent hostel, and we've asked them to submit a business plan."

If it looks like the hostel could be taken over, Cllr Tennant said Pendle Council and Earby Town Council would look at carrying out repairs to the central heating and doing chimney works as well as refitting new showers.

But in the meantime, Cllr Tennant said other expressions of interest in running the hostel are welcome.

Anyone interested should email Dean Langton at Dean.Langton@pendle.gov.uk