YOBS picking up lumps of rock from beds beside Blackburn's recently-opened B&Q store car park could kill or injure passing motorists, it was claimed today.

Nearby traders said windows on their shops and cars have already been smashed by vandals who use the wall of the car park as a climbing frame and hurl down stones which litter the pavement below, alongside busy Bolton Road.

The superstore's car park is supported by a wall built with timber and trays of loose stones and boulders.

Ahmed Lunat, who runs Bolton Road Secondhand Shop, said: "All it needs is one kid to pick a brick up and throw it at a passing motorist and we are looking at a fatality.

"The amount of damage that has already been caused to properties out here is massive."

Mr Lunat said there had been no problems in the 17 years he has been at the shop until the car park wall was built.

Philip Rostrone, who lives in Bolton Road, said: "Windows have gone through on shops and car windows. They are taking pot shots at cars. No one is doing anything about it and it's an accident waiting to happen.

"There are 20 to 30 people at night climbing up and down it for various reasons, usually because they are drunk, and kids climbing up there as well."

Geoff Aspin, who runs GT Salvage in nearby Union Street, said he had the windscreen and two other windows of a work van smashed after leaving the vehicle parked in Bolton Road on Saturday night.

He added: "It's out of hand. Stuff is getting damaged all the time."

Community beat sergeant Paul Goodall said police were aware of the problems and were trying to provide a visible presence to the area.

He said they had no say over the design of the car park. He said he was aware of people throwing rocks at cars "and this could have serious consequences."

Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "The existing designs are not in accordance with the terms of the planning agreement.

"We are aware of this and have already been in contact with the owner requesting a revised scheme which will address the existing problems."

But a spokesman for the developer Henry Boot said the timber crib walls had been built in accordance with planning permission.

The only changes due to be made were for plants to be added but that would not stop access to the rocks.

He added that similar construction was used extensively throughout the UK. A spokesman for B&Q said the firm had not been aware of a problem around the car park but would now raise the issue with their landlord.

"The store and its car park have been built in accordance with plans approved by the local authority and as B&Q is a tenant , the car park falls under the responsibility of the landlord," she added. Anyone with any information is asked to contact 01254 51212.