A £3million expansion plan has been revealed for one of East Lancashire's top tourist attractions.

Bosses at Oswaldtwistle Mills want to regenerate part of the site to create a 14,000 square foot specialist food hall and resta-urant focusing on local produce.

It is thought the development could bring an extra £3million in to the local economy and generate about 60 jobs.

Boyd Hargreaves, director of Oswaldtwistle Mills, said: "It will be a cross between that which you would find at Selfridges and a seven day farmers' market."

The scheme, labelled the Northern Ingredient Food Hall, will see the former GB Timber shop at the corner of Union Road and Moscow Mill Street conv-erted into a stone-built glass-fronted building.

The vaulted interior will contain a deli, florist, sweet shop, rotisserie, a smoothie bar and will also house the site's current cheese deli, specialist butchers and wine and beer expert.

An orangery is set to feature an award-winning regional foods bistro while a cookery demonst-ration theatre will play host to visiting celebrity chefs.

Mr Hargreaves said: "There has been a revolution in food and our attitude to food.

"Some have dubbed it the real food revival'; food with less ingredients and more taste, locally sourced, freshly and simply prepared. The Northern Ingredient Food Hall will offer all this.

"We bought the timber building in May last year. It is currently dilapidated and is a confusing sight on arrival to Oswaldtwistle Mills.

"The new front will regenerate the site and let people know exactly what to expect inside.

"The plans will create a massive boost for the local economy, which will in turn benefit the local community."

The plans also include the conversion of Clifton Mill, currently used as offices, into a setting for artists and designers' workshops and retail spaces.

The site would hold silk artists, tattooists, furniture makers, stone makers and sculptors.

Under the plans submitted to Hyndburn Council, a zebra crossing and a mini roundabout on Union Road will help to ease traffic.

Oswaldtwistle Mills shopping village is home to more than 75 shops plus leisure and tourist attractions.

It opened 17 years ago in a former mill - Moscow Mill, Colliers Street - and has more than one million visitors a year.

Nearly 80 retail outlets within the mill sell everything from pear drops, toys and local produce to crafts, clogs and tuxedos. It employs up to 225 people at peak times.