EXHAUST fumes from buses waiting on a busy town centre street are causing concern for traders and shoppers.

Buses regularly wait at bus stops in Duckworth Street and Market Street in Darwen town centre for periods of up to ten minutes as they pick up passengers, according to shoppers.

And the main concern is about stand three - which is directly outside a bakery shop - serving route two of the Lancashire United Spot On service.

Complaints have prompted Blackburn with Darwen Council to investigate the problem - but Lancashire United has moved to try and reassure people It was put into position as part of the £1.4 million roadworks in Darwen town centre early this year, which has prevented cars and taxis from travelling down Market Street passed the Union Street junction.

One local shop worker said: "Customers in the shop moan about the exhaust fumes and we can smell it too.

"I worry about workers' health because the fumes aren't good - especially if you've got a cold or asthma.

"It just doesn't do you any good."

Maureen Dawson, from the Whitehall area of Darwen, regularly waits for buses in Market Steet.

She said: "I'd have thought in these days of worrying about emissions and carbon footprints, that they would have switched their engines off while they waited."

Russell Revill, managing director of Lancashire United, said: "The buses are fitted with the latest technology and have the Euro 4 type engine, which makes them the cleanest type of vehicle of that description.

"If people are worried about particles they needn't be because all that gets filtered out.

"The engines are fitted with a device where it will switch off after four minutes, but if buses are only stopping for a few seconds to pick up and drop off, then it is impractical to keep switching the engines on and off."

Coun Alan Cottam, the council's executive member for regeneration, said: "There is a traffic regulation condition that limits the amount of time that buses can wait in Duckworth Street.

"It means that buses can drop off, load and go, but no waiting is allowed. However, it is one of the more busy boarding and alighting points in the borough and boarding can take up to five minutes at times on market days etc.

"Drivers are advised to switch engines off, but because of the traffic regulation order, buses cannot wait, so engines are invariably left running.

"The bus stop on Duckworth Street also contributes to loss of sight lines for drivers reversing out into the line of traffic. We will have a look at the practicalities of changing the passenger access arrangements."