BRITISH Waterways last night unveiled new plans to turn Anderton Boat Lift into one of Cheshire's premier tourist attractions.

The world-famous lift, near Northwich, has been restored to its former glory.

And now a £1m operations and visitor centre will open next to the 'Cathedral of the Canals' in a bid to attract more than 60,000 tourists each year.

The centre will feature a conference room and restaurant over looking the lift and interactive displays charting the history of the lift and the canals it joins in the heart of the county.

Visitors will be given a ticket to travel on the lift, billed as the original Victorian white knuckle ride.

Vale Royal Borough Council's planning committee last night gave permission to an amended application for the centre and building work is due to begin within the next few months.

The lift will be working by September with both attractions opening to the public in Spring 2002.

Lynne Peglar, British Waterways media executive, said: 'The centre will be a major new attraction for Northwich particularly.

'As well as a ride on the lift, they will have access to lots of information about the heritage of the waterways and it will make a fantastic day out.'

Built in 1875 by Edwin Clark, the 100ft high Anderton Boat Lift links the Trent and Mersey Canal with the River Weaver which runs 50ft lower.

The lift was the first of its kind in the world, using sophisticated hydraulics to transport boats from the canal to the river.

In 1908 the hydraulics were replaced with a system of steel winches and pulleys driven by electrical power and this system was used until the lift eventually closed in 1983 due to structural problems.

Restoration has cost more than £7m with a series of grants from the Heritage Lottery, local authorities, waterways and boat lift trusts.

When the lift, listed as a scheduled ancient monument, reopens it will be back to its original hydraulic system.

Derek Cochrane, regional director of British Waterways, said: 'It will be the first time the hydraulic system has been used for almost 100 years but it is important that we are faithful to the original.

'The visitor centre will be the icing on the cake. We expect this to be an enormously successful attraction bringing in a substantial number of visitors and providing a huge boost to the economy.

'We are confident that the lift and centre at Anderton will win awards for its recreation of the Victorian age.

'It will put Northwich on the map and become a major focal point for Cheshire.'