A NEW playgroup and creche could be the answer to boosting trade in Burnley, town centre bosses said today.

The first drop & shop' style creche is opening alongside a new play centre today.

And shopping managers believe the scheme, based at Central Methodist Church, will help boost mid-week trade by allowing parents to shop safe in the knowledge that their children are being taken care of by professionals.

Jan Hubbard, project worker at the play centre, said: "It's a fantastic resource in the centre of Burnley. The play centre is being developed as a Drop & Shop Creche' alongside the regular sessions to allow parents to leave their children in a safe and affordable venue while they go shopping.

"This is a new and exciting service for Burnley Town Centre. It is hoped it will support mid-week trade in the town as the centre is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings."

The play centre, an Ofsted-registered non-profit making playgroup, has been taken over by Burnley-based childcare and women's support body New Era Enterprises. It will be run by qualified staff for children aged between two and five.

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher was set to officially open the Hargreaves Street centre today(FRI).

Mrs Hubbard added: "Huge commitment has been shown over the years by the playgroup organisers and the Methodist Church congregation."

Town Centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "New Era contacted me a while ago and asked what I would advise and I told them to come into the town centre and do questionnaires to find out what demand there would be for this kind of service. They are trialing it initially on the selected days.

"It's a fantastic addition to the services we already have in Burnley because we haven't got anything that caters for children in the town centre.

"It's going to be a great opportunity and addition to have this kind of facility and for the town centre to become family friendly and offer somewhere for children to go while parents shop, go to the hairdressers or go into town to pay their bills.

"I have a three-year-old little girl and you start to realise just what we have and haven't got in the town centre. It's going to be a great selling point for the town that we are being more family friendly.

"Another point is that when the health centre opens that will also have creche facilities for its visitors which is something we can start to market and brand."