YOUNGSTERS and teenagers from across East Lancashire today welcomed the news that Blackburn was to catch up with neighbouring towns with a cinema multiplex and agreed more was needed to stop them travelling elsewhere for a good time.

But some school pupils said space should be provided on the site at Audley for some sort of outdoor activity, saying there were already enough indoor facilities to keep them amused.

Some students at Blackburn College were better placed than most to comment on the plans -- they have reaped the benefits of similar projects in neighbouring Bolton.

Among them was 17-year-old Philip Hunter, from Bolton, who travels to Blackburn on a daily basis to attend the town's college.

He said: "Bolton has so much more for people to do and has come a long way in the last couple of years.

"It has big cinemas, pubs and bowling alleys on entertainment complexes and from what I have seen of Blackburn, it really needs the same."

Amanda Hartley, 18, from Langho, said: "A cinema is a good thing for Blackburn, because at the moment I have to travel to Burnley or Preston.

"A bowling alley is really what is needed alongside it."

Stuart Bainbridge, 18, of Accrington, said: "We have a cinema opening in Accrington and it is good to have a choice of things to do. A bowling alley has to be the best choice to go alongside it."

At St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, the prospect of a 10 screen cinema created a buzz.

Matthew Agnew, 12, from Langho, said: "I like action films. A new cinema here would be good because I normally have to travel further to go to the cinema. The last film I saw was at one of the big cinemas in Manchester.

"A bowling alley would be a good idea."

Philip Aspin, 11, from Blackburn, added: "I go to the Apollo at the moment but it would be good to have a bigger cinema like other towns have.

"We need a bowling alley."

Ben Barker, 12, from the Mill Hill area, said: "The last film I saw was Spider-Man in Blackburn. A new cinema would be good but when it is hot we need outdoor things for us to do."

Claire Bennett, 11, from Rishton, said: "I like funny films but have to travel a long way to the cinema at the moment.

"A bowling alley would be good as well because we do not have one of those at the moment."

Liam Bell, 12, from Brownhill, added: "I would like to see a cinema in Blackburn but I would rather they put a skatepark next to it. We could do with a good one of those."

Sarah Allton, 11, from Oswaldtwistle, said: "I would like to see a bowling alley go next to the cinema more than anything.

"I go to the cinema at the moment in Burnley or Preston and with the new one in Accrington as well, there will be a lot more for us to do."