AMIR Khan's £5 million luxury Deane wedding venue is about nine months away from opening, the boxer has revealed.

The first and second floors of the Washington Street venue are finished, with work on its third floor and roof due to be completed by the end of next week.

Work will then start on the venue's restaurant area, reception area and staircases.

Amir says the demand for the venue so far has been huge, and he is upbeat about the impact it will have on the Bolton community.

He said: "The demand has been crazy. I keep getting phone calls from people every week wanting to book the venue.

"The bad weather doesn't help much but work is going well so far.

"This venue will give at least 100 jobs to the Bolton community.

"We want to give opportunities to people in Bolton and I think with the venue we will definitely do that.

"This place will will bring in big businesses, like restaurants and coffee shops — it will put Bolton on the map."

Amir's father Shah said development is going well and that he has also been inundated with wedding requests for the venue.

Shah Khan said: "I go down to the site two or three times a week and it looks fantastic.

"The weather has impacted — we've had little hiccups here and there.

"But overall, I think we are progressing pretty well.

"The demand has been amazing — we've had 40 to 50 enquiries for the venue already.

"We need a venue like this in Bolton. There will be so many jobs created here."

Once open, the building will stage wedding receptions and business conferences in a 620-seater buffet restaurant.

The development will contain a restaurant and bar on the ground floor, an 800-seater function hall on the second floor, a VIP restaurant and breakout area on the second floor, a roof terrace and 51 parking spaces.

Bolton firm, Ash & Sons, in Chorley Old Road, is building the venue, employing between 20 and 25 workers on site.