A MILL engine which has been out of action for 21 years is once more ready to roll.

The engine at Oak Mount Mill on Wiseman Street, Burnley, will be in motion again on Saturday. There will be no steaming up this time but a push button start because the 115-year-old engine is now powered by electricity.

The engine is now owned by the Burnley Weavers' Triangle Trust.

Chairman Brian Hall agreed that to purists, news that the former steam mill engine was now run by electricity could be a shocker.

He said: "We toyed with the idea of restoring it as a steam powered engine but the cost was prohibitive. "We could still do it if any multi-millionaire could spare a million."

The £70,000 restoration cost has had 80 per cent funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

There has also been help from the Burnley Council government Single Regeneration Budget, the Resource/Science Museum and the North West Museums Service.

Mr Hall said: "When the mill ceased weaving in 1979 the boiler was removed. The cost of installing a new one and running the engine by steam would be prohibitive so we are using an electric motor to turn the engine."

The engine was installed after a fire at the mill in 1886 and is believed to be by W @ J Yates of Blackburn with several later modifications. It will be on view on Saturday from 1-3.30pm.

There will be no charge for admission but it is hoped visitors will make donations towards running costs.

Mr Hall said the Weavers' Triangle Trust were looking into the possibility of running the engine perhaps once a month next year.