A LEADING travel firm is set to create up to 230 new jobs in an award-winning East Lancashire complex.

Rossendale-based Airtours has agreed to set up a new telephone enquiry centre at the multi-million pound Globe Centre in Accrington complex.

The announcement means more than 1,000 jobs will have been created at the Scaitcliffe Street centre in just over two years.

A spokeswoman for Airtours said: "I can confirm we will be creating up to 230 new jobs at the centre from December."

Airtours already has office space at the site of the former Howard and Bullough textile mill and will spread its new service over two floors.

Posts at the centre have been advertised and will be filled from next month.

Hyndburn Council leader George Slynn said: "This is another success story for the Globe Centre. It has already proved itself Lancashire's premier business centre with an unrivalled range of facilities.

"Almost 95 per cent of the space is now filled, which must be a unique achievement not only in the borough but in the North West as a whole.

"We are delighted Airtours is investing so substantially in the Globe Centre, which can only be good for the local economy."

Stuart Nevison, of developers Globe Enterprises Ltd, said: "The Globe provides first class office accommodation at a very competitive price.

"We're delighted Airtours have once again chosen our development for their new home."

Council chiefs recently announced plans for a leisure and training complex at the site and expect work to be completed on the third phase of development by the summer.

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