CULTURE Secretary Sajid Javid was given the inside track on three popular arts venues in East Lancashire, which have a bright future.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson accompanied his Bromsgrove colleague as he toured Brierfield Library and nearby Northlight, formerly known as Brierfield Mill.

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The Colne Road and Glen Way buildings are hosting work created by local group In Situ, which has collaborated with Mexican and Pakistani counterparts after receiving a £90,000 Arts Council grant.

Brierfield Library, along with Colne, underwent a major overhaul in 2012, as part of a Lancashire County Council’s regeneration scheme.

The library, after a £500,000 investment, is now more open-plan and has movable shelves, allowing the space to be used for a variety of purposes.

The MPs were then taken to Colne Muni, the borough’s well-used venue for everything from Manchester Camerata to American wrestling and amateur boxing, through comedy, music and other light entertainment.

This year alone the Arts Council has worked with Pendle Leisure Trust to expand the programme at the Albert Road hall, offering more than £153,000 from its strategic touring funds.

Mr Javid was able to discuss Arts Council funding and the tax credit scheme for touring theatres with Alison Goode, a trust executive and organiser of the award-winning Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, based at The Muni.

Mr Stephenson said: “I was delighted that the Secretary of State took time out of his busy schedule to visit Pendle.

“We have a thriving local arts scene, with numerous groups doing fantastic work across Pendle so it was hard to choose which projects to show him.

“I know he was really impressed by what he saw and hope he can support the work of even more of our local groups.”

Mr Javid previously served as Economic Secretary from 2012-2013 and as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 2013-2014. Some commentators have stated that Javid has a chance of becoming leader of the Conservative Party.