DIY giants Homesbase has stepped up its bid to build a store in Burnley.

The firm wants to build a base on derelict land off Caldervale Road and today received backing from business leaders and councillors who feel the development could kickstart the regeneration of the rundown area.

If successful, a 35,000 sq ft store and 10,000 sq ft garden centre would be built next to the former Papermarc site, yards from Focus and the proposed £55million Oval project.

Town centre manager, Lisa Durkin, said she hoped provisions would cater for the extra traffic, especially in Westgate.

She said: "There is still a need for it as the Focus store is not large and many people travel out of town.

"Homebase has wanted to come for a long time and it is going to provide a use in a derelict area on a gateway to Burnley."

Coun Carole Galbraith, Trinity ward member, added: "The application shows companies have confidence in Burnley.

Hopefully this would lead to further companies setting up businesses in the area."

The planning application will go before Burnley Council's development control committee on Thursday.

A raft of conditions would have to be met, including flood prevention for the River Calder which dissects the site, and donations to traffic works and public art.

A store was first proposed on the former Ribble bus depot at the Harcros site, Centenary Way, in 1997 but owners Sainsbury's said the site was too small.

A year later, Sainsbury's announced plans for one in its Prestige factory development but again shelved the idea before selling the business to the Argos group.

An Argos spokesperson declined to say how many jobs would be created.