NEWS that a brand new, £65million university/ college campus is to be built in Burnley took Looking Back to 1966 when similar plans were also discussed.

For more than 40 years ago it was revealed by Burnley Corporation that a university was one of the projects it was considering - after being given a £350,000 gift!

The money had been donated to the town by William Thompson, of Todmorden Road, and his sister Sarah.

But the Mayor of the day, Alderman George Hollinrake, concluded: "There is very little likelihood of this project in Burnley!"

Mr Thompson then indicated that the money should be spent, instead, on a lido and sports centre in Thompson Park.

And one of the things he wanted to see were large doors from the pool opening on to a sun bathing area and lawns for the benefit of townsfolk.

A slimmed- down version of his hopes did go ahead, but the William Thompson Centre was built in the town centre, instead, and is currently being demolished.

l The planned launch of Burnley College's new campus in September 2009 will be exactly 100 years after the opening of the present Ormerod Road site it is set to replace.