DARWEN'S new £7.3million health centre is the focus of attention this week as local people and Shadow Health Minister Tim Loughton get to look around.

Tomorrow afternoon, Mr Loughton will see work carried out on the new complex and will be told the project is well ahead of schedule.

On Friday at 1pm, the centre's Advisory Group, made up of various people from the town, will get their chance.

Health bosses said the visits would give both parties the chance to see for themselves the "tremendous progress" being made building this state of the art health centre.

Paul Hinnigan, acting chief executive for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust said: "This is an exciting project offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a real difference to the health of local people.

"Building work on the new health centre is currently six weeks ahead of schedule. We expect to be taking over the building from the contractors next May, with the first services due to occupy the building in June, and all services being provided by July."

Resident and wheelchair-user Graham Carter, who has been involved with the advisory group throughout the planning stages, said he was delighted the PCT had taken the views of future users into account.

He said: "The user has group has been very successful. The PCT has taken our views on board, such as increasing the size of the lifts to fit wheelchairs in comfortably, and now we have been invited to have a look at the work so far."

The new health centre will enable the PCT to provide modern and comprehensive health care to more than 30,000 people in Darwen.