AN EXHILARATING new Haslingden leisure attraction will be shown off for the first time at a meeting of business leaders next week.

Grip & Go, the new £275,000 climbing wall at Haslingden Sports Centre, is not due to open until July 18.

But guests at the Meet and Eat in the Valley networking event will get a sneak preview of the feature on Monday.

Bosses at Rossendale Leisure Trust, which is funding the facility through a loan from Rossendale Council, hope it will attract thousands of East Lancashire thrillseekers each year - as well as tourists visiting the county.

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Haslingden accountancy firm Cassons and Rawtenstall's Viva PR have organised the quarterly business gathering.

Representatives from the trust will talk about their hopes for the centre and how it will help to boost the local economy when they address delegates at at Rossendale Golf Club.

The trust's chairman, Martin Kay, said: "Climbing is one of the fastest growing leisure activities in the UK and Grip & Go is the first facility of its type in Lancashire.

"It’s something new and exciting and we firmly believe it has the potential to do for Rossendale what the ski slope did 40 years ago; put the valley on the map and encourage more visitors to the area.

"Adventure climbing is a great fit with the area because Rossendale is already a popular destination for skiing and mountain biking."

Haslingden Sports Centre, in Helmshore Road, will be re-named Adrenaline to reflect its focus on adventure sports, took delivery of the wall yesterday (TUES) from the installation team at the wall's engineers, Hangfest.

Cassons' managing partner, Les Nutter, said: "It’s great to see Rossendale Leisure Trust investing in the future and I’m very much looking forward to hearing about their wider vision."

Meet and Eat in the Valley will rake place from 12pm to 2pm on June 15, with £15 tickets available from www.mychamber.co.uk/eastlancs/event/view/id/1905.