A PRICELESS piece of Blackburn's history is to form the centrepiece of a new town centre development.

A decades-old mirror etched with pictures from bygone Blackburn is to be displayed in an apartment, shop, and restaurant development around Fleming Square, to be known as the Church Court.

It was found in the former Halifax bank, Church Street, two years ago ahead of a planned revamp of Lord Square.

Since then the 6ft by 4ft mirror has been housed in the centre's boardroom.

Now it has been donated to Blackburn millionaireness and pub-supremo Margo Grimshaw, who is behind the development.

Work on the development is due to start in three weeks, for completion in 18 months.

The mirror has a picture of the old clock tower, King William Street, a cotton mill, and the former market.

It also features people wearing clogs, a woman with a shawl over her head, a hot potato stall and cobbles.

Margo, also an Evening Telegraph columnist, said she thought it predated the First World War by the type of dress the people were wearing in the picture.

"I don't see it as being for me, I think of it for the town.

"I am very pleased with it, it's keeping our heritage," she said.

It is not known how old the mirror is, but it was on display at the entrance of the former the Halifax when the then building society moved into the premises in 1973.

The building was due to be demolished as part of the Lord Square redevelopment planned by previous owners, Reit Asset Management.

London-based The Mall took over in September 2004 and are planning to start a £45million revamp of the centre in the spring.

Loraine Jones, manager of The Mall, said Margo had been chosen to look after the mirror because she was so well-known in the town.

She said The Mall wanted the mirror to be on display to the public.

The mirror is to under-go a restoration by specialists Byrom Supplies, Chapel Street.

Owner Maralyn Rigby said "It's a priceless gem."