TWO residents must wait to hear the outcome of their High Court fight to prevent their homes making way for the Darwen Academy.

Adrian Walker, of Redearth Street, and Thomas Brian, of Sunnybank Street, have asked High Court judge Mr Justice Wilkie to quash a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on their homes.

Now the judge has reserved judgment in the case and will give a written decision later. No date has yet been fixed.

The two men claim that the CPO, issued by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and approved by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears, was made without proper public consultation and breached their human rights.

And they say that the council and Secretary of State failed to consider the duty to provide 'best value', arguing that the new academy school on the Redearth site will cost up to £54million when Government guidance suggests academies should cost only around £25million.

The academy, which will replace Darwen Moorland High School, is to be built on the Redearth Triangle.