A NEW state-of-art community facility is set to create dozens of jobs and boost Barnoldswick's economy when it opens next month.

Cash from the North West Development Agency has been used to build a community resource centre, craft studios and a community cinema on the site of the old Rainhall Road School, which closed in 2001.

West Craven Together, which applied for £1 million to build the new facilities, is hoping the venture will create dozens of office and craft-based jobs.

Following nine months of work on the building, the centre will be officially opened on Friday, July 13, by the development agency's chief executive Steven Broomhead.

Craven ward councillor David Whipp said he was delighted that four years of hard work had finally paid off.

He said: "We are so happy that the building work is practically completed. The work looks really good and the building looks fantastic."

The facility will have three main uses. The old hall has been turned into a space for a community cinema and a performance and seminar areas, while another part of the building will house a range of craft studios for local artists to rent and display their work. An exhibition from the Lancashire Arts and Craft Guild will kick off the opening festivities.

And the third aspect will be an enterprise centre to help new businesses set up, which, in turn, will create jobs and boost the local economy.

Coun Whipp said: "We are hoping this will create dozens of jobs, mainly office and craft based ones.

"Also, within the setting of Barnoldswick, we hope to create more activities for people and attract visitors. We want this building to have both a community focus and an enterprise focus."

The partnership has applied for an entertainment, music and dancing licence and is hoping the cinema will open in the autumn. It will be run mainly by volunteers.