LEADING national public relations agency, Mason Williams, has been appointed to handle the launch of the new £15 million World of Glass visitor centre due to open in March next year.

St Helens has been synonymous with glass for more than 200 years and The World of Glass aims to put the town squarely on the tourist map.

Straddling the Sankey Canal, the centre will tell the story of glass through a series of interactive displays, working hot-glass demonstrations, special kids areas and an audio visual theatre.

The centrepiece of the attraction is the oldest tank furnace in Europe which was discovered underneath the Grade II listed Cone House during a recent excavation. This serves as a real-life illustration of the glass-making process as it was in the days of the Industrial Revolution. The World of Glass will also house the Pilkington Glass Collection and St Helens Borough Collection, plus a lecture theatre, business school, library, shops and an open air cafe area.

Mason Williams - which has offices in Manchester and London - has already started work on the project and will be responsible for implementing an intensive PR campaign in the build-up to the opening next spring. Joint managing director, John Williams, said: "This is a fabulous project to be involved in and we are delighted to be on the team."

The World of Glass director, Gordon Kirk, said: "We want to bring glass to life in a dynamic, colourful and informative way. St Helens has long enjoyed a proud heritage at the forefront of glass technology and by celebrating the town's history in this way we can hopefully play a significant role in the town's future.

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