A NEW centre offering support and guidance to youths aged 13 to 19 is to be official opened in Blackburn.

The hi-tech Connexions centre has a wealth of facilities for the borough's teenagers, from internet access to careers advice.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, the Youth Offending Team, Leaving Care, the Prince's Trust and the Primary Care Trust are behind the Ainsworth Street centre.

Operations director for Connexions in Blackburn with Darwen, Jon Stonehouse, said: "We are delighted to have been able to create this high quality provision for young people."

Connexions team leader, Nighat Parveen, added: "It brings together essential services under one roof so that young people will be able to get advice on a wide range of issues from health to housing."

The centre's name is still a secret until the opening, which will take place on June 30. Margaret Hodge, Minister of State for Children, will perform the official opening.