COUNCIL bosses have pledged to help the owners of demolition-threatened premises find new sites after they were told they would be bulldozed as part of Burnley's £55million Oval Project.

The move comes after Kay Donohoe, owner of a pet shop in Curzon Street, blasted the council for not consulting them about plans to transform the former Co-op Pioneer site.

Earlier this week the council hand-delivered letters telling owners their businesses would be demolished to make way for the development at the same time as Henry Boot Developments announced their plans for the massive development.

Following the announcement, Michael Birdsall, the council's head of property consultancy, and Lisa Durkin, the town centre manager, met with owners and tenants to start discussions.

A council spokesman said the council has done its best to minimise disruption to existing businesses.

He said: "The council appreciates the effect this development will have on a number of businesses and it will do everything in its power to assist.

"However, the council clearly needs to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to completely transform the town centre."

Plans for the development - dubbed The Oval - include a flagship department store, 22 two-storey shop units, restaurants, bars, an outdoor cinema and a public space.

Mrs Donohoe, owner of Waterlife Then Pets, said she had started looking at alternative sites outside the borough because there was no suitable sites in Burnley for her business.

She said: "We are a town-centre business and we have started looking but there are no sites for us in the town."