A new crossing is to be built in Blackburn aims to encourage active travelling with ambitions to connect different areas of the borough.

Haslingden Road has welcomed a parallel crossing which allows walkers and cyclists to pass over the road on a combined crossing.

Despite appearing like a standard zebra crossing, it also is marked with a broken white line for cyclists to cross.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, executive member for growth and development, said: “I’m pleased to see this project come to fruition.

“It’s important that we make our borough safe and inclusive for everyone and with the new housing development opposite this offers a method for residents to travel actively to and from the hospital, as well as others who may be travelling further.”

Built across the road from the Royal Blackburn Hospital to support the new Keepmoat housing development, the highway improvements have been delivered and paid for by the developer.

It will benefit the new development, but also existing developments in the area and has been welcomed by residents.

Additionally, it helps employees from the hospital who walk, cycle or use public transport to stay safe while crossing the road.

The council led the design and aims to build many more across the borough, with ambitions to connect different areas of Blackburn with Darwen so residents can be more confident to leave their cars at home and travel actively more regularly.

In this case, the crossing connects walkers and cyclists to South East Blackburn from Blackburn town centre to Guide.

Drivers have been warned that if they approach the parallel crossing while driving to remember to look out for walkers and cyclists waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop.