Work on a new £1m pharmacy centre is set to begin next month. Aston Chemists Ltd will relocate to a purpose-built facility on Blackburn Road in Accrington. It will house a pharmacy, dentist and opticians.

The company has run a store further along the road for the past 25 years, but was served with a compulsory purchase order from the council four years ago.

It has now agreed to buy land next to the Acorn Health Centre after a relocation package was agreed with Hyndburn council.

Firm bosses confirmed they will also relocate their Blackburn headquarters to the new premises which is on the site of a former petrol station. Work will begin on Monday, February 6 and the centre could be open as soon as September.

Up to 25 new jobs are expected to be created. Naomi Jeffers, finance and business development manager at Aston Chemists Ltd, said the new building will be a ‘big boost’ for the area.

She said: "It’s very exciting to have this opportunity and to have a new building nearer the health centre. It’s taken a long time to get here.

"I can’t remember the last time anybody has put that amount of money into Accrington since the new Tesco.

"It will be a big boost for the area and shouldn’t affect the people who currently use the chemist as it’s just along the road."

Plans for the site include creating a 26-bay car park and the building will include two consultation rooms and better disabled access.

Hyndburn council agreed the compulsory purchase order using funds provided through the Housing Market Renewal scheme to regenerate West Accrington. Many nearby buildings have already been cleared and the council is working with development partner Keepmoat Homes to create new housing in the area.

The company was founded 27 years ago and has six shops¿– three in Lancashire and three in Yorkshire.

Council leader Miles Parkinson said the new centre is ‘really good news’ for the community.

He said: "We are pleased that the issue has now been resolved and that the business can expand and create jobs. It’s been a long time coming.

"We are pleased they are staying in the borough in bricks and mortar.

"We look forward to the seeing the work ."