A B&M store in Blackburn town centre re-opened this morning having been devastated by a large fire last year.

The store in Blackburn Retail Park, Lower Audley Street, had been closed for more than a year after being destroyed in a huge blaze in May 2023.

However, this morning (Saturday, September 14) the grand re-opening of the store took place with a ribbon cutting ceremony outside and a balloon arch welcoming the first customers through the door.

The store was immaculate inside and had everything you could need in one place, from cleaning products to bedding to interior home decorations.

At the back of the store is a large garden centre section selling plants and decking, while the first signs of Christmas were also on show with a huge selection of festive-themed sweets and biscuits along the back shelf.

READ MORE: Crews remain at scene following major B&M Bargains fire

A B&M spokesperson said: "We cannot wait to start welcoming customers back through the door once again.”

While the store has been closed, another B&M opened in the town at the spot vacated by Wilko on King William Street, while there is another store at the Hyndburn Retail Park in Whitebirk Drive, close to the border between Hyndburn and Blackburn.

The newly opened B&M in Lower Audley Street, BlackburnThe newly opened B&M in Lower Audley Street, Blackburn (Image: NQ)

The re-opening takes the number of B&M stores in East Lancashire to eight, with two now in Blackburn, one on Whitebirk Drive, and one each in Accrington, Burnley, Colne, Rawtenstall, and Bacup.

In May of last year a large fire broke out at the Lower Audley Street store, completely destroying the building, with the intense heat causing damage to the roof and the main steel portal frame to buckle.  

Ten fire engines were called at around 8.15pm on May 6 and battled through the night to bring the blaze under control.