CAMPAIGNERS who have spent almost two years trying to get a motorway services sign altered were today told: "It could take months yet."

Now Darwen MP Janet Anderson is so fed up with the delay, she plans to raise the issue in Parliament this week.

Both Mrs Anderson and local councillor Dave Smith have pushed for the Blackburn Services sign on the M65 to be replaced with one saying 'Blackburn with Darwen Services' since residents complained about Darwen being missed off.

In July, owners of the site Swayfields confirmed new signs would be in place by August.

Four months later, Coun Smith has been told that due to an ongoing discussion between the Highways Agency, Swayfields and consultants over the funding and manufacturing of the signs, it could be next spring before the work is carried out.

Coun Smith blamed the Highways Agency for the delays. He said: "They really are extremely slow at doing anything. It's pathetic. They have known about this for 18 months and I think Swayfields have done their best as they have altered their interior signs and it's just the motorway signs that need doing.

"It's still going ahead - it's just a question of when."

Mrs Anderson said: "I am extremely angry about the delay and I can't understand why it is taking so long. I will definitely be tabling some urgent parliamentary questions to try to sort this out."

A 700-name petition asking for the name to be changed to Darwen Services was collected in February last year and Mrs Anderson took up the fight on protesters' behalf. Eventually a compromise was reached, and it was decided to alter the sign to 'Blackburn with Darwen'.

Since then an advertising placard referring to Blackburn with Darwen Services has been installed on the approach and a display promoting Darwen placed inside the services. But the motorway sign remains unchanged.