HISTORIC buildings in Burnley's Weavers Triangle have been sold off.

Rossendale-based Hurstwood Developments Ltd has bought the former Clock Tower Mill site, Lord's Printers, Slater's Terrace and a site on Wiseman Street from Millview Developments.

The triangle is one of the oldest collections of industrial buildings in the country, dating back to when Burnley was at the centre of the world cotton weaving industry.

In recent years, the area has been blighted by neglect, decay and vandalism and has been branded an eyesore at one of the key approaches to the town centre.

Imaginative schemes for redevelopment of the buildings, including one from Prince Charles' architectural guru Rod Hackney in the 1980s, have consistently come to nothing.

Now Hurstwood is believed to be in the process of drawing up detailed new plans. Managing director Stephen Ashworth said: "We are not yet in a position to reveal the exact detail of our plans for the area but we are very excited by the scheme we have in mind because we believe it will be a real boost, not just for Burnley, but for the whole of East Lancashire.

"We are working with a London-based firm of architects, who specialise in regeneration projects, to finalise our plans. We are also talking to a number of key agencies in the area."

Neil Weaver, of Taylor Weaver commercial property surveyors, who negotiated the sale, said: "We received a good level of interest in respect of the two sites. However we are pleased to have secured Hurstwood Developments as purchaser.

"We understand they are in the process of preparing detailed plans for the redevelopment of the whole area, which will provide extensive refurbishment, and redevelopment of the existing premises which forms a gateway site on the main entrance into Burnley town centre."

David Brown, a director of environment at Burnley Borough Council, said: "We will be in contact with Hurstwood to discuss how to progress any scheme."