REGENERATION bosses hope to tackle the problem of empty shops in Accrington and attract new investors - by setting up arts exhibits in vacant shop windows.

Arts and craftspeople would be encouraged to use empty shops through a project called Art Attack, which aims to get retail bosses interested in shops empty for a long time.

This is based on a similar scheme in Congleton, Cheshire, which helped brighten up the streets for shoppers and provided local artists with an outlet for their work.

A group of Hyndburn artists and craftspeople, supported by Hyndburn Council chiefs, plan to set up picture and sculpture art displays in shop windows.

There would be between two and four exhibitions taking place at any one time, and the artwork would be moved from shop to shop every month or so. Members of the group are currently looking at town centre properties and contacting their owners which has receivedWed whether to give a further £1,500 to the project.

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