A RESTAURANT in the centre of Blackburn is set to reopen a month after its previous owners put the business into voluntary liquidation.

Richmond's Brasserie, Richmond Terrace, opened with a fanfare in 2004, claiming to be Blackburn's best kept secret.' The venue, listed with the Smoke Free North West organisation as a non-smoking venue, is in the Sudell Cross area, which is being revamped by Blackburn with Darwen Council into a pedestrian-friendly plaza.

The brasserie was seen as the first of what the council hoped would be several high- class establishments attracted to the area by the multi-million-pound scheme.

But the venue closed at the end of January and is being taken over by new owners.

Serena and David Edward are hoping to reopen the business in the coming weeks, after buying it from the liquidators.

Mrs Edward, who was previously manager, said she could not comment on the reasons why the former business had gone into liquidation, but said: "I will be taking it over. My husband and I are buying the business from the liquidators. We are hoping to reopen in the next week or so.

"There won't be any major changes, we are hoping to offer pretty much the same thing."

It is hoped that staff who previously worked at the venue will be taken on again.

The council's planned revamp of that area will transform and pedestrianise the Sudell Cross rat-run, and widen part of King Street to create extra parking bays.

The junction will be restricted to vehicles needing access, with pedestrians having priority.

A statue of Barbara Castle is likely to be placed at the centre, then work will also be carried out on Northgate with a large square planned in front of the old police station.