BATTLE lines are being drawn for a public inquiry that could shape Blackburn and Accrington town centres in years to come.

A major property group has appealed against a refusal to allow it to expand Whitebirk retail park, on the Blackburn-Hyndburn boundary.

Manchester-based Peel Holdings saw its bid to increase the range of shops - bringing in high street giants Next and Boots - thrown out by Hyndburn Council in June amid fears it would take business out of the town centres.

But the group has appealed and a government planning inquiry, expected to last two weeks, will now decide the case in June.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "We are very concerned as a whole council about the need to protect our town centre.

"We are currently working on producing a masterplan for the town centre to take us over the next 50 years. What we fear is that this will be detrimental."

Hyndburn and Blackburn with Darwen council have both arranged for barristers to fight the case against Peel, which owns sites including Liverpool airport and the Trafford Centre.

Coun Britcliffe added: "It might be David against Goliath, but sometimes Goliath wins."

Hyndburn Council is leading the fight against the appeal, but bosses at Blackburn with Darwen council have compiled a dossier to submit to the inquiry, and commissioned surveys into the possible impact on the town centre.

Blackburn chamber of trade chairman David Cottam said: "We are dead set against it. People are losing money to these out of town developments, which are taking more of the pie.

"If this goes ahead it will be a real nail in the coffin."

But Gareth Finch, of Peel Holdings, accused the councils of being "dogmatic" in their opposition to the plans.

He said similar schemes had worked in Preston and Bolton with no detriment to the town centres.

He added: "It was rejected despite the advice of the council officers and advisers.

"The case has moved on since last time around."