THE PRINCIPAL of Accrington and Rossendale College spoke of her hopes to create a £9m campus to serve students for the next 50 years, at an annual awards evening.

Nancy Cookson told the 60 students, community groups and employers who attended the Annual Scholarship Awards Evening at the Sandy Lane site, in Accrington, that the past academic year had been challenging and exciting.

It was also a year in which the college had a record £16m turnover that would be the envy of many businesses. And Mrs Cookson looked to the future regarding the college's plans to reshape its buildings and create a single campus in Sandy Lane for all its specialist vocational activity.

This development was possible after the college gained £9 million funding from the Learning and Skills Council, Mrs Cookson said.

She said: "Many of our buildings both here and at Rawtenstall were built for a different purpose some 40 to 50 years ago. We hope to create a beautiful campus here which will serve our area well for the next 50 years."

Guest speaker for the evening was leader of Lancashire County Council Coun Hazel Harding.

The scholarship fund of Accrington and Rossendale College comprises several different scholarships which have been endowed by local families and firms.

Many of these endowments were first made during the 19th century.