TOWN centre bosses in three Spanish towns are looking to Darwen as a blueprint for success.

Officials in Barbastro, Alquezar and Acaniz, situated in the Aragon region, plan to set up their own town centre partnerships.

And Darwen has been highlighted as a good example of best practice for them to aim towards.

Towns within the UK are also being advised to follow in the footsteps of the partnership, which is made up of a cross section of the community including councillors, traders, residents, young people and the police.

Darwen's partnership was highlighted as a "very good example" by the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) and is expected to be included in a government publication on best practice.

Darwen Town Centre Partnership was created in 2004 in a bid to come up with a masterplan to regenerate the town centre and improve the town.

It is funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council, as well as various external sources such as Heritage Lottery and Market Town Initiative.

Martin Blackwell, development director at the ATCM, said: "What has been recognised is that Darwen is a very good example of the way to do things. It wasn't easy for them and nobody will say there weren't mistakes along the way but it is a good example of "listening".

"Sometimes people think they have a good idea and they just go ahead and do things with the best intentions.

"Darwen Town Centre Partnership has listened to people in the community and has changed things.

It is quite interesting that the Europeans are now looking at our way of doing things and it is obviously good news for Darwen."

Town centre manager Tony Fitzgerald has been involved in promoting the partnership both in the UK and abroad and earlier this month representatives from Walsall Council visited Darwen to get advice on running a similar partnership.

Tony was also invited to travel to Spain this summer with the ATCM to talk about Darwen to officials in the three Aragon-based towns.

He said: "We have been praised for involving people in the community in the decisions for the town, and other councils have begun to take interest in what we are doing. It has really put a spotlight on the town.

"When I went to Spain I met with people from the partnership boards of the three towns who are in the process of setting up a partnership and employing a town centre management.

"We also have links with Manchester Metropolitan University who have written up our details in a case study for the ATCM.

It's absolutely brilliant for Darwen."