Emergency accommodation for some of Blackburn's most vulnerable homeless people is set to be retained for another winter.

Borough housing officials are seeking to renew a planning permission for 10 'pods' until next March in the grounds of the former Shadsworth Leisure Centre.

Under the authority's 'severe weather exposure provision', the sleeping pods have been provided at the Shadsworth site for a number of years.

An official said: "BWDBC housing needs team will allocate the pods to vulnerable people / rough sleepers throughout the winter period."

The pods are covered by CCTV and lighting and two dining areas are provided alongside the sleeping arrangements, according to the plans.

It is envisaged that the pods, all reached by a timber rail and small light of steps to a key-coded door, will be in situ from November 14 to March 14.

Previous plans for the accommodation has detailed how a single bedroom and toilet/shower room is provided within each sleeper pod. And a kitchenette and dining area is provided in each dining pod.

Council planning chiefs have been told that while there is no disabled access to the pods there are alternative accessible provisions made elsewhere in the borough as part of the same winter programme.

Earlier this year a resident of the pods voiced concerns that the compound there had been left padlocked overnight.

But town hall chiefs said this was for the safety of pod residents and security was on hand in case the gates needed to be opened.

The pods were first rolled out by the council in 2020 as part of pandemic homeless provisions.

Residents living in the pods have benefitted in the past from wraparound support available at the site every day to help with addiction and mental health issues with a support network and pathway to a permanent home.