A ROW has broken out over how two poem-inscribed benches costing £40,000 were authorised without opposition councillors being informed.

Details of the spiral benches, set to be the centrepiece of the renovated Fleming Square in Blackburn town centre, were announced by regeneration bosses last week.

No cost was initially given by Blackburn with Darwen Council. But it has since emerged that the benches have cost £20,000 each. Council bosses today stressed the money had come from the Townscape Heritage Initiative, a council scheme funded mainly through Government grants. Coun Paul Browne, leader of the Lib Dems, said: "

"The Labour group has its priorities all wrong. They shouldn't be chasing cash to put in benches with fancy poems, they should be pushing for more money to sort out the things people are bothered about like roads.

"It is pure folly and I want to know how it is that such cash can be authorised without councillors being informed. The £40,000, could have funded repairs to pavements."

Conservative councillor Paul McGurty said: "I am truly stunned. This is one of the better developments. If I did have one criticism it would be the cost of public art -- £240,000 has been spent on pointless statues in Church Street, but at least people will benefit from this one because they can sit on it."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration, said: "Everyone knows we can't use the money for anything we want. People were consulted. I'm sorry if all councillors weren't involved, but I am happy that we have had an informed consultation."