A COUNCIL has been urged to tackle the problem of loose flagstones in Accrington town centre before it affects the new £8million Market Square development.

Opposition Labour councillors said Hyndburn Council should sort out the problem, which is particularly bad on Broadway, before it drives shoppers away or someone is injured.

"It could undo all the good work that the new development is doing," said Coun Jean Battle.

She said the problem had even threatened the unveiling of the latest stage in the Market Square development, the Market Way walk and its mosaics.

Workmen were called in at the last minute to try to fix flags on the footpath linking Broadway and the new Market Pavilions in Peel Street that had become loose last week.

Nigel Rix the director of Hyndburn First, the council's development arm, apologised for the state of the footway and said the developers had been ordered to relay the path before the Christmas light switch-on on Thursday, November 13.

He also said that current state of the Boulevard was only temporary and that the council were in the early stages of designs for its redevelopment.

The unveiling of the mosaics, designed by children from Accrington primary schools St Mary Magdalen, in Devonshire Street, and St Peter's, in Cartmel Avenue, was on schedule this Thursday.

Work on the Market Square development started in May last year and is nearing completion with two new stores, Poundland and Wilkinsons, opening recently and creating 110 jobs together.

Coun Battle, leader of the Labour opposition, said: "I noticed last week that a number of flagstones on the new Market Way had lifted and that workmen had been called to fix it.

"But the problems are part of a larger one in the town centre as a whole, that of loose flagstones. There are countless loose flags all over the town, especially on Broadway, that are a real eyesore."

Mr Rix said: "The developers agree that Market Way will be relaid because there has been cracking which results in hazards for users."