ROADWORKS outside Blackburn town hall have done "irrevocable damage" to traders, according to a businessman with three decades' experience.

Lord Odin, who changed him name from Gary Womack in honour of a Norse god, is at the end of his tether with the disruption.

And he is thinking about moving Vall Hall jewellers from King William Street to Clitheroe after 32 years in Blackburn.

When the £830,000 Blackburn with Darwen Council project is finished, the town hall square will be given a facelift and the town hall lit up at night.

Mr Odin said: "I have done my very best to get through it, but outside the front of the shop is a complete building site."

The jeweller runs the only occupied shop in his block, and Mr Odin said the paving work, and the prospect of more major projects brought too much disruption.

He added: "I am the last man standing in this block, and I have lost faith that Blackburn will recover.

"They are under the impression that when the barriers come away people will just come back to Blackburn.

"People won't just revert back for their Christmas shopping. I think they have done irrevocable damage to this town. I understand that work has to go on, but not the sheer length of time and the inconvenience.

"The question is, do I want to carry on in Blackburn when there is 10 years' more work planned?

"People will have converted to Preston by the time it finishes."

There were fears of delays to the 25-week scheme when the wrong stone arrived and had to be sent back, but council bosses insist things are on track. Paving work is set to be finished by Remem-brance Sunday, November 11, and street fittings will be put in during the second week of December.

Coun Alan Cottam, regeneration boss, said: "The town hall square is part of an established conservation area and provides an important and historic civic space within the town centre."

He said the old layout was not suited to pedestrians and the paving needed improving. He added: "The new scheme will provide a much more user-friendly space, which can also be used to stage civic ceremonies. The new formal paved areas has been created using high quality natural materials and new street furniture will also be installed."