PLANS for a new church and community centre in a Rossendale village have taken a step forward.

A community partnership is to be formed in Weir to try to raise the £700,000 needed to build the ambitious multi-purpose building.

Earlier this year Weir Baptist Church unveiled its plans to develop a building on the site of the former Doals Church in Burnley Road that was demolished in 1996 after it was found to have dry rot.

For many years parishioners had to meet in each others' homes and were invited to use the Weir Hotel before moving to Northern Primary School. They have been working hard in that time and have raised £100,000 for a new church.

Now members of the church have agreed to get together with other interested agencies and the local community to make their dream of a new church and community centre a reality.

The Reverend Neil Hepworth said: "Essentially, the vision for the building remains the same, but the control and development would be owned by a full set of cross-community partners. The church would be a leading, significant influence, but would work on an equal basis with other partners."

Groups and organisations that have expressed an interest in the project include Haslingden Community Link, Community Futures and SureStart, a Government initiative for families with children under five.

It's hoped the building will be used for coffee mornings, a luncheon club, a youth club, entertainment, aerobics and fitness.

It will also accommodate SureStart family groups, a parent and toddler group, mobile social services, Rossendale College courses and other community activities.