BLACKBURN's old police station could be transformed into a high-class hotel or luxury apartments after being snapped up by a property developer.

And new jobs could be created after a deal was sealed to give control of the grade II listed building to Rossendale-based property developer The Hurstwood Group.

Bosses say they are drawing up a number of plans for the future use of the Victorian building - likely to be an up-market hotel, offices or luxury town centre flats, according to the town's regeneration chief.

Blackburn with Darwen Council sees the 100-year-old building as a key site which could be used as a centrepiece for regeneration in the town.

In August it made inquiries about buying the former station and re-selling it to an approved developer to help block undesirable developments, but the sale never went through.

Director of regeneration Graham Burgess today said the council was happy about the deal.

He said: "We were only thinking about buying the building because nobody else was interested and we wanted to make sure no rogue developers got hold of it.

"Hurstwood is a reputable developer and they have promised to develop in partnership with the council.

"We have been talking about a hotel or high quality town centre living - ultimately that is Hurstwood's call but we're satisfied it will be something of good quality.

"Now we can spend our money on other areas of regeneration. We see this as a real indicator that people are investing in Blackburn."

Hurstwood said it has not yet made any definite plans as to what the building would be used for, but that it would be something to help regenerate the town centre.

Chairman Stephen J Ashworth said: "While it is far too early to say what the exact nature of our long term plans for the future use of the building will be, we are examining a number of imaginative and exciting options.

"Whatever we do, our goal will be to regenerate an important part of the town's heritage and to play an important part in the broader regeneration of this area of Blackburn town centre.

"The old police station is in a wonderful location at the heart of the town centre and we believe it will be attractive to a number of potential tenants and will bring important new investment and job creation directly into the town centre."

Blackburn Chamber of Trade president Raymond Goldstone said he hoped the building would be made into a hotel.

He said: "This is good news for Blackburn, especially since we are getting something in keeping with our objections for business and the well-being of the town.

"Blackburn needs a hotel and one with good conference facilities would really help business. If business is happy that means people are spending money in Blackburn and that's our main objective."

The four-storey building includes 15 cells and a number of offices, together making 52,000 sq ft.

Blackburn Magistrates Court, which operates from a section of the building, will stay there for at least five years until a new courtroom in Blackburn is built.

The building was the town's main police station until December, 2002 when officers moved to a new £5.6million nerve centre equipped with the latest technology in Whitebirk and the old building was put on the market.

The Hurstwood Group, a finalist in last year's LET business awards, is also involved in the regeneration of a number of large listed buildings in the region including Holly Mount House in Rossendale, Weavers Triangle in Burnley and the Post Office in Rochdale.