MORE than £30,000 has been handed out to businesses in Nelson to improve their premises.

The funds from the borough council have been shared out among 16 firms.

The former Bull pub in Scotland Road which has been vacant for a number of years, was given £12,000 for four new shop fronts and cleaning the external stonework.

A total of £6,000 has been given to the Pendle Rise shopping centre to make improvements to the appearance of the outside and make vacant retail units fit for purpose.

Ghausia Food Store in Leeds Road was handed £3,000 to replace the ‘old rotten shop front’, according to a council document to make it for for purpose.

Pendleside Hospice received £615,89 to replace the signage and repaint the shop front in Scotland Road.

Wilkinson’s Hi-Fi in Manchester Road was given £2,130 to replace its illuminated signs while Samosa Hut in Scotland Road was handed £1,440 to install similar signs.

A total of £3,000 has also been given to Nawab Sweet Centre in Scotland Road and £413 to Driver Education Centre in Leeds Road to install signs.

A total of 10 of the projects have been completed.