WHITWORTH'S £1m state-of-the-art new civic hall is set to finally open next month - and council chiefs say it's going to be one of Lancashire's finest.

And the opening of the one-stop shop and council chamber marks a phoenix from the flames success story.

For it is has been built on the same site in Market Street as the previous hall, which was destroyed by a blaze caused by an electrical fault in December, 2003.

The fire ripped through the two-storey building following a Stars In Your Eyes performance, that saw around 250 people packed into the hall.

Rossendale Council's cabinet committee members have agreed to lease rooms in the centre to the Community Leisure Association of Whitworth and to the town council.

The borough council will be responsible for providing insurance for the hall and the car park.

Councillor Alan Neal, a former Mayor of Whitworth, said: "After the fire I wrote to the then chief executive and leader of the council outlining a number of proposals.

"One of which was working with community groups and various organisations. It's nice to see that the new building does fit in well and hopefully it will still be around in 100 years time.

"The officers and the people involved need to be thanked. It will be a valuable facility for the people of Whitworth and Rossendale."

The room accomm-odating the council will also double up as a civic wedding venue.

Council leader Duncan Ruddick said: "It's a magnificent building. I think it's the best hall in Lancashire and I would like to congratulate the council and people of Whitworth."

It is scheduled to open on Saturday, October 28.