A NEW wave of ambitious young artists have been given an unique ‘shop window’ for their talents in the middle of Nelson.

Creative types from across the North West have taken up residency in The Shop, the former post office at the corner of Leeds Road and New Scotland Road, for the next three months.

And working with Pendle’s In-Situ arts collective, it will be their task to ‘connect’ with town centre workers and shoppers across a variety of mediums.

Supported by the Portas Town Team and the Arts Council England, Pendle Leisure Trust is also heavily involved in the regeneration-led effort.

Paul Hartley, one of In-Situ’s partners, said: “It’ll be an explosion of creative energy in Nelson.”

David Armes, of Salford-based Red Plate Press, is rebuilding an old printing press, literally in the shop window.

He said: “Every town used to have its own printing press.

“Now Nelson is unique in having one.”

His ambition will be to put the constructed press to good use over the 12 weeks.

Trio Reet So, featuring a Colne young designer and two colleagues from Leeds, encourage people to be inquisitive about local voices in the media. Alice Withers, Lucy Courtney-Clegg and Ben Boothman have been involved in a series of workshops and events across Yorkshire and are looking forward to their Lancashire stint.

Another who has been selected is York’s Lydia Cotterell, whose project Hair Story, will be transforming people’s hairstyles into individual narratives.

For passers-by, who would like to find out more about the initiative, they can drop in at The Shop every Wednesday to Saturday, between 10am and 3pm, and a Facebook page has also been launched.

A Nelson Town Team spokesman added: “It’s designed to bring a new dimension to Nelson town centre, with support from organisations in the Town Team including the Pendle Leisure Trust, local traders, Nelson and Colne College and Pendle Council.”