STAFF at a Blackburn firm have been left with nowhere to park after being banned from using their own back yard by council bosses.

Workers and customers were forced to park on the street outside Dexter Paints Ltd, Vernon Street, after a dispute over access through a Blackburn with Darwen Council car park.

But the firm says the spaces are being clogged up by council staff using long stay permits following the introduction of new on-street parking charges.

Today it was revealed that a meeting in June 2003 tried to improve access to the yard so it could be used for deliveries and staff parking - but the council failed to find a solution because the official dealing with the matter left the authority.

The council today said it was considering a plan for allowing access to the yard, which has space for roughly three cars, but the firm said it was news to them.

Craig Morgan, chairman of the East Lancashire branch of The Federation of Small Businesses said: "The council are driving small businesses out of the town centre as a result of this type of parking issue."

Paul Carter, operations manager, said the company, with six other shops across Lancashire, was losing money because customers had nowhere to park.

He said: "I can't believe when the council are concerned about people going out of town for shopping that they make it difficult for businesses that are in the town centre to get business.

"We were asked to stop putting up signs asking people not to block our entrance last year when the car park was renovated and bays were outlined - two of which now block our entrance."

The firm wrote to Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, earlier this month asking for his help in the matter.

But a letter from Coun Kay said: "Your car park appears to be landlocked and as such it cannot operate as a car park whilst there is no access. Any downturn in business is regrettable and unfortunate.

"The parking bays at the front of the business are long stay and as such anyone working in the town centre who has paid for a permit is able to use them."

He added today: "In terms of providing access to the rear of the business via the car park, we have written to the business saying we would consider this request as part of an overall review of parking."