SEVERAL sites across East Lancashire have been identified as potential sites for an £18million tourist attraction.

The East Lancashire Partnership -- representing the area's six borough councils -- has drawn up a hitlist of possible sites for the Spice! herbs and spices visitor centre.

It is now due to meet with project officials in a bid to persuade them to choose the area ahead of Liverpool, York and Leeds.

And Jan Smithies, the woman behind Spice!, said if they found a suitable location, negotiations could begin about securing the land.

She said: "We are coming over in a couple of weeks to meet the people and tour some possible sites.

"We will be seeing a range of different types of sites and looking at their feasibility.

"If one site stands out then it will be about starting negotiations with who owns the site."

Last month, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed how talks were being held between Spice! and the ELP after discussions about locating the centre in Bradford broke down

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Miss Smithies said the area's diverse communities made East Lancashire an ideal contender for the scheme, which received backing from MPs, business and tourism chiefs.

She said that once a location was chosen, local organisations would be invited to join the Spice! board and apply for funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Europe and the North West Development Agency.

Plans for Spice! include a 5,000 square metre glass-fronted hall with restaurants, shops and centre of excellence for the growing of quality spices. Visitors will be taught about the history of herbs and spices.

Dennis Taylor, chief executive of the ELP, said the meeting would take place in early April but it was too early to reveal the number and location of sites.

He said: "We recognise this project offers major potential for East Lancashire and we will be working very closely with the Spice! project organisers in the hope that we can turn this visionary project into a major tourism attraction".