A LLANELLI landmark stuck in the past has been given its final £2 million cash boost to elevate it to its original glory.

Assembly bosses have confirmed that the £6 million project to restore Llanelly House is to be backed with European Convergence funding, creating 10 new jobs.

It means that work on the Grade One listed building will start in spring 2010, and is expected to be completed by 2012, in a project which it is hoped will help spark the town centre back into life.

Project director William Wilkins, who has been working on it for the past nine years, hailed the news.

He said: "At last we can start - that is the key. It is a huge turning point."

And Welsh designer and Changing Rooms TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who has backed the restoration, was "over the moon" at the announcement.

He added: "This is a fantastic building that will be restored, and it will give a real lift to Llanelli and its town centre."

Announced by Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews, at the Wales Regeneration Summit today, the final go ahead is thanks to a £2 million cash injection from the Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.

Earlier this year the project received a £3.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The scheme will include free admission to visitors to enjoy a range of events, and heritage activities including exhibitions and heritage interpretation using state of the art technology.

The centre will also feature a cafe/restaurant, as well as a business start up facility to encourage small enterprises to establish themselves.

The scheme, led by Carmarthenshire Regeneration Heritage Trust (CHRT), and backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Llanelli Town Council, Carmarthenshire Council and the Assembly, is expected to create a further 30 jobs over the next three years from the services and activities available at the centre.