A 'LIGHT RAIL' network could be built in East Lancashire to ease traffic jams.

Council bosses are looking at the system, described as a smaller, faster version of the tram, to tackle traffic build-up between Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen.

A study has revealed car journey times are going to increase by 2020 and the road network will not cope.

Up to £40million of governmnt money which was set aside as part of the East Lancashire Rapid Transit project is waiting to be spent on a suitable scheme.

Under the project, a bid to build a tram network was put forward in 1999, but scrapped in 2005 as parts of the area were too hilly.

Plans were then drawn up last year to build bus lanes on the A666 and along Accrington Road, Blackburn, to help people travel in to the town from Darwen and Accrington by public transport.

The coalition in charge of Blackburn with Darwen Council, which is leading on the scheme, has now put the whole project out to public consultation until March 14, and is refusing to rule anything out.

Other options being explored include a park and ride system and improving the rail link with Manchester.

Bosses have already been given a quote for an "ultra light rail" scheme, which is thought to cost around £500,000 per kilometre.

They are looking into whether a rail line could run across the Freckleton Street bridge, due to be completed in the summer.

Ultra light rail is a smaller, faster version of the tram that doesn't use overhead wires.

It is mostly aimed at smaller towns, although nowhere in the country has installed a complete system to date.

Coaches, which store energy on board to power a motor, run along a steel track that can run along a road or in a separate lane.

Council leader Colin Rigby said: "If it's viable, affordable and if we can get the additional funding we may need, it's a yes.

"We have a ball-park figure, but in my experience these never turn out to be accurate."

But Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said it was "extremely unlikely" a light-rail service would be built in the near future, because of the costs and upgrading bus routes should be the priority.

However his executive colleague Coun Tony Melia, the lead member for regeneration, said: "I am very keen on a light rail system.

"It would be state of the art, help with carbon emissions and put us on the map."

Labour's shadow regeneration spokesman Coun Andy Kay said the bus lane idea would reduce the number of cars on the roads, and said plans for tram-style transport were "living in dreamland".

He said a park and ride scheme would not be suitable as there are many different ways into the town centre.

Council bosses commissioned a report which warns the average journey time between Blackburn and Darwen will rise from 24 minutes to 37 minutes by 2020.

Blackburn has a relatively low car ownership compared to other parts of the country.

But this is set to increase rapidly as the borough's young population gets older and buys cars.