MYSTERY surrounds work which has been undertaken in the back alley of a Darwen road.

The alleyway on one side of Bank Street has been resurfaced, two metal bollards have been fitted in the centre to prevent motorists driving through and wooden fencing has been put up along the back walls.

Residents have welcomed the move but it is not known who authorised or carried out the work.

Following an investigation Blackburn with Darwen Council said it appeared to have no record of any works being authorised on the site or any invoices for costs.

The work has been carried out without the council’s permission.

According to residents, who live in the odd numbered houses whose homes back onto the rejuvinated alleyway, workmen appeared a few weeks ago and resurfaced the area.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “We assumed it was the council that did it. I don’t know anyone else who would.

“We thought it was part of the other works that are going on. We have been told our homes will be sandblasted, the road redone and the front gardens sorted out.”

A 21-year-old woman, who lives on the opposite side of the street, said: “It’s just been done, it could have been done by the people building the academy if it wasn’t the council.

“It is good but I wish whoever did it would hurry up and do ours too.

“I don’t know why they have put bollards up, there is no problems in that back alley, but ours is a mess.”

George Bell, associate director of Highways and Transportation at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The work on back Bank Street, Darwen, has been carried out without the permission or knowledge of the Highways Section.

“Officers have been, and still are, trying to find out who ordered, funded and carried out the work.”