City education chiefs are hoping homegrown talent from a new construction training centre will help build a brighter future for Preston.

Apprentices at the state-of-the-art training centre, at Preston City Council's Argyll Road depot, will get the chance to gain much-needed qualifications in bricklaying, joinery, plastering and painting.

Bosses at the centre, a partnership between Preston City Council, Preston College and the North West Learning and Skills Council, hope those skills will be put to use in regenerating the city.

Malcolm Clarke, director of Preston College's business services, said: "There is a shortage of these types of skills but the construction industry is a lucrative, career option.

"While some of their friends may have so-called flashier jobs, these apprentices will find they have the potential to earn more money.

"With the level of regeneration planned for Preston, we certainly see the people who pass through this centre as being the key to any development success and I'm sure any construction agreements with developers will stipulate that local people must be used."

The centre was officially opened by the Mayor of Preston, Coun Bill Tyson.

He said: "You'll always need painters, plasterers, bricklayers and joiners, and hopefully this centre will encourage more talented youngsters, and other people to move into construction.

"There are exciting regeneration projects such as Tithebarn and Riverworks in the pipeline and we hope the apprentices will go on to work on these projects and shape the future of our city."