STAFF at the former Halifax in Brownhill, Blackburn, have swapped bankers cheques for travellers cheques with the opening of a new travel agents.

When the Halifax on Whalley Old Road closed in August 1999, local agent Terry Sayers decided to re-train the staff to work in his new business venture, Sayers Rock World Travel.

The centre opened its doors to the public on September 11 with a free prize draw to win a week in paradise -- the Paradise Club in Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife. The travel agents, which is part of the Global Travel Group, has also taken on three full-time travel staff.

Owner Mr Sayers, who is also a financial advisor, said: "When the Halifax closed it left a bit of a white elephant of an empty shop. So rather than accept the inevitable redundancies we thought we try something new."

"Although it is a competitive field, travel is something people are always interested in."