More than 50 jobs will be created with the opening of a new food complex in the Accrington Arndale Centre.

The StrEAT Foodcourt will feature a Burger King restaurant, Pizza Neo, REAL Cafe.co and a Wuji noodle outlet.

It will be set up inside the former Bon Marche unit, which has been vacant for the last 18 months.

CPL Foods, which is the company behind StrEAT Foodcourt, was given the go ahead by the council last month to convert the former retail space into a food venue.

Bosses have hailed the venue as ‘good news’ for the town, adding the plans will fill a prominent vacant unit and boost footfall.

Lamen Reddy, operations director, said: “We are working on a nationwide expansion so we have been looking at many areas of the UK for good opportunities to open a new Burger King restaurant and this excellent location was perfect.

“We are overwhelmed by the support and feel very encouraged by the buzz being created from the community.”

A spokesman for Burger King Ltd said it is currently working with Accrington Job Centre to recruit new staff.

He added: “We are excited to be offering employment to the area and we can confirm that at least 50 employees will be needed to operate the restaurants.”

Work is currently under way to convert the unit and will be opened by Hyndburn mayor Judith Addison at 10am on Saturday, November 23.

Fran Finnerty, manager of Timpson shoe repairs in the Arndale, said it’s ‘just what the town centre needs’.

He added: “It’s really good news to have so many different places opening. The unit has been empty for far too long.”

Deputy council leader Clare Pritchard hailed the investment into the area.

She said: “I think it’s a really good idea and we have been in close contact with the Arndale Centre to get it filled up.

“We are very excited by this and very grateful for the jobs coming into the town. It can only be good for us.”