A vision of a thriving 'artistic quarter' in Chorley will be given a boost by the creation of a youth drop-in cafe in the town's transport interchange.

The cafe will be used as a base from which young people will be encouraged to take part in a range of creative activities including radio, music and DJ-ing. It is planned to open in early summer.

The busker's cafe will be funded by a lottery grant of £88,026 which will pay for three youth workers to work alongside South Lancashire Arts Partnership in running a range of music-based activities in and around the bus station.

The project will cost more than £160,000, with the arts partnership finding the rest of the money with support from the borough council.

Chorley council leisure and cultural services spokesman, Chris Mellor, said: "This is great news for the young people of the town. It is the first big lottery young people's award in the borough.

"The space will include small performance area for acoustic performances, music video projection facilities and DJ decks. A young person's steering group will help programme the space.

"The bus station staff have been invited to take part in this innovative scheme as mentors. It is hoped the project will help combat juvenile nuisance in the area."