YOU'VE heard of Black Beauty - well East Lancashire horses are set to be "Bath Beauties" when a state-of-the-art equestrian rehabilitation centre opens.

The Higher Spen Equestrian Centre will offer stabling for 16 horses and all the latest therapies, including an 11ft deep hydrotherapy pool, a spa, a solarium and walking tracks specially made for horses.

The centre, at Fence, is the brainchild of Maurice and Jane Dewhurst, beef and sheep farmers who have diversified to ensure the future of the farm for their three children.

The couple had traditionally farmed animals but, after realising there was a lack of rehabilitation facilities for horses, decided to set up the centre.

Mr Dewhurst said: "This farm has been in our family for over 25 years and it has always been a financially secure and viable working farm with around 40 pedigree Simmental cows and 200 sheep.

"We supplemented that income with a milk round and farm contracting but looking ahead it wasn't enough.

"We have three children who are all showing an interest in farming and we wanted to secure a future for them within the business."

Mrs Dewhurst said: "Horses are in our blood.

"We have always kept and bred them and in 2001 started to think about where we could take this interest.

"Research showed that, while the horse population was growing and there were a lot of stabling and livery yards, this area was lacking in good rehabilitaiton facilities for horses.

"With numerous racecourses nearby we felt it was the right time and the right place."

Planning permission was granted by the local council and building work started last November.

The centre is now set to open in about two weeks.

The couple hope they will be able to offer help to horse owners from across Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Mrs Dewhurst added: "It is all go from now on.

"Our hope in the future is to buy and breed from our own stallions so we are on the look out for a real winner.

"We still keep the nucleus of 30 pedigree Charolais sheep and around 150 commercial ewes but our future, and we hope the future of our children, now really rests with making a success of the equestrian centre."