Darwen trainer designer Gary Aspden now has as a stretch of road in his home town named after him.

Part of Knott Street near Darwen Youth Centre has been renamed Gary Aspden Way.

The move celebrates the contributions that the Adidas designer and Spezial curator has made to Blackburn with Darwen borough.

As well as Gary’s efforts in helping to regenerate the borough through culture, the naming of the road is also a recognition of his charity work, as a supporter of youth homelessness charity Nightsafe.

Family, friends and special guests were invited to an event at Darwen Library on Tuesday to mark the official unveiling of Gary Aspden Way by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Mr Aspden has held three exhibitions in the borough – two with his Adidas SPEZIAL brand and one for C.P. Company, with the proceeds from all the events pledged to Nightsafe.

In 2022 he also worked with his friend and former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher to host an intimate gig at King George’s Hall in its centenary year - again helping to raise vital funds for the Blackburn-based charity.

While much of the new Gary Aspden Way is currently fenced off to allow for the council’s £3.3 millon regeneration of the youth centre, the event was hosted to ensure his mother Lilian, could attend.

Mr Aspden said: “There’s a lot of people here today who are incredibly important to me, including my mum and my partner Joanne.

“It really does feel fitting that it’s this stretch of Knott Street with the youth centre on that should be re-named Gary Aspden Way.

“As a teenager in the 80s, I used to go to the youth centre and in 1990 I had a job there as a trainee youth worker.

“Back then I had a lot of personal struggles going on and I lost that job as a result.

“I have a lot of history with that particular stretch.

“Anyone who knows me knows just how much I care about Darwen and Blackburn too.

“I just wish my dad could have been here to see this - he would have been very proud.”

Speaking at the event, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “We couldn’t think of a more perfect stretch of road to be named Gary Aspden Way.

“A lot of what Gary does here in Blackburn with Darwen is about inspiring young people and so it feels incredibly fitting that his road should be where the youth centre is.

“Gary really does have a story that should inspire us all – a young lad from Darwen who overcame his struggles and went on to develop his own global Adidas line.”

Jan Larkin, chief executive of Nightsafe, said to Mr Aspden: “Whenever I do talks, I tell people about you – you are without a shadow of a doubt the nicest, kindest, most creative, and most talented person I have ever met.

“The difference you have made to Nightsafe and the young people we help to support is just incredible."