A BUILDING boarded up for more than two decades has had new life breathed into it in its latest incarnation as The Newsroom.

Its new owner is asking for amateur historians to help her paint a picture of what the building used to look like when it was last in use.

Leanne Moss recently opened the cafe bar with free wi-fi on Duke Street with husband Shaun and daughter Leanne, and is keen to learn more about the history of the place.

The 44-year-old from Rivington Road said the building wasn’t in prime condition when they took it over.

She said: “We were looking for premises along Duke Street, but it was one of the only ones empty.

“But it was derelict; just like an old house, with a front room, middle room and stairs. There was no gas, electricity or water.”

But five months later it has been transformed, and The Newsroom opened its doors at the end of October.

Owning their own business was a leap of faith for Leanne and Shaun.

After working at St Helens College for 21 years teaching hospitality and management, Leanne she was faced with the looming prospect of redundancy, along with her husband, who is a Prince’s Trust Team leader.

She said: “Since we have been open, people have come in and said Clitheroe’s used to have it as a newsagent for a number of years.

“After that the next owner also ran it as a newsagent. I wanted to mix the old and the new. I wanted to keep the character of the building, so we did the front like an old shop. Now I want to find out as much as I can about it.”

She is asking for anyone with old photographs or memories to pop into The Newsroom and share them.