COUNCIL chiefs angered by problems at Blackburn railway station have vowed to put pressure on the industry to act.

They fear crumbling tiles in the underpass that runs through the station present the wrong impression to visitors - especially when a nearby multi-million pound leisure complex is completed next year.

The development, which includes a cinema, bowling alley, leisure club and restaurants, will result in more people using the underpass as it will be the quickest pedestrian access to the site.

But large gaps in the tiling have begun appearing, less than two years after the station revamp was completed, and the rail firm that leases the station has blamed damp.

But passenger groups claimed the problem should have been predicted, especially as the roof which used to cover the station, including all the tracks, was replaced with a dome that covers only three of the four platforms.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member at Blackburn with Darwen Council for regeneration, said: "We are trying to establish what we can do and we would like to see something done about it. Certainly, we will apply pressure to get work done." The council is also reviewing the planning conditions attached to the railway station redevelopment after First North Western, the main station operator, continued to use platform four after the station redevelopment was completed.

As the Lancashire Evening Telegraph reported, the platform was left exposed to the elements as a result of the redevelopment and was only meant to be used during the refurbishment when other platforms were out of action.

But First North Western discovered that by keeping trains running through platform four - the only platform on the main track that doesn't involve changing tracks - more services were leaving on time.

A spokesman for First North Western confirmed remedial work was to take place on the tiles but there was no intention to stop using the platform.

At a 'meet the bosses' event at the station last week, the issue was raised by passengers.

David Butterworth, from the Rail Passenger Committee, said: "The problem with Blackburn railway station is that it wasn't all planned at once, it is the product of several decisions which have left things in a bit of a muddle."