Work is getting underway to repair a retaining wall next to an East Lancs waterway which has been damaged since late 2022.

Initial funding was found by Lancashire County Council to fund the restoration of the wall overlooking Limey Water, off Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, last month.

But now further financial support has become available with the cancellation of a footbridge scheme elsewhere in the county.

Using unallocated cash from the county's bridge maintenance budget an additional £276,989 has been found for the Rossendale works.

Ridwan Musa, Lancashire County Council's highway operations and design head, has authorised the extra spending, giving a total budget of £598,892 now.

In an accompanying report, he said: "In November 2022 the 'Burnley Road Laund' highway retaining wall supporting the A682 between Rawtenstall and Burnley collapsed into the adjacent river.

"The A682 is part of the resilient route network and classified as a 3a priority main distributor road.

"In early 2023 a project was established to enable temporary measures to be installed to prevent further collapse, protect public safety, safeguard essential utilities, and allow the road to remain open.

"The site is currently barriered off with, no footway provision and an open excavation to the river. It is in a safe condition but is vulnerable to further damage if water levels increase.

"The status of the route, the risk of disruption to infrastructure and the vulnerability of the site mean that this is the highest priority site currently in the bridges programme.

"Design of a project to repair the wall has been ongoing and works are now planned to commence this year to complete the reinstatement.

"The anticipated cost of the proposed works has increased beyond those originally envisaged due to the proximity of major utilities and difficult ground conditions."

He confirmed additional funding had been needed to ensure the works progressed sufficiently.

County councillors have been told the scheme was included in a programme to address the state of a number of retaining walls across East Lancs.