TEXTILE produced by an industrial heritage site saved from closure last year is to be used for new range of upmarket men's shirts.

Calico from Burnley's Queen Street Mill will make the garments created by University of Central Lancashire's course leader for fashion design degrees Amanda Odlin-Bates.

This is one of several projects to try and assure the future of the Victorian factory, the last surviving steam-powered weaving mill in the world.

The Grade I-listed building, which featured in the film 'The King’s Speech', was built in 1789.

Its future was cast in doubt in November 2015 after Lancashire County Council’s then Labour administration decided to close it and other museums including Helmshore Mill as part of budget cuts.

The following Conservative administration, led by Burnley-born Geoff Driver, fulfilled an election promise to reopen them in April 2018.

Queen Street Mill reopened three days a week between Easter and the end of October last year.

The county council has announced that this year it will open each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from April 18, the beginning of Easter, until end October from 12 until 4pm.

Access will be restricted as parts of the mill in Briercliffe, including 115-foot high chimney and steam engine are undergoing renovation.

To mitigate this pre-booked expertly-guided tours to the remainder of the historic building and weaving sheds will be offered.

In advance of the re-opening, Queen Street Mill will host a 'Community Conversation' event between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday April 11 to which interested members of the public are invited.

At this event Ms Odlin-Bates will give more details of her new project and partnership to develop bespoke heirloom men’s shirts working with the mill's calico - a plain-woven textile made from unbleached and often not fully processed cotton.

Sara Burdett, Project Manager for the National Trust will give an update on work to secure a sustainable future for the mill from 2020 and beyond.

So far a grant of £99,000 has been awarded to its future by the Heritage Lottery Fund while the mill has also received funding from Arts Council England and Museum Development North-West.

Entry fees to the mill this summer will be £3 for adults and £2 for concessions. Accompanied children will be free.