PROPOSALS to upgrade Burnley Central station due to start soon have been put back, the town's MP has learned.

Peter Pike has expressed his disappointment at the latest delay on a redevelopment project he has been urging for 40 years.

He made his revelation after checking on the state of play with the plans.

Mr Pike has been concerned about Burnley Central station even before he moved to Burnley in the 1960s and more recently has been working closely with Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council on the plans for redeveloping and improving the station.

Work was due to start in the next few weeks.

In recent correspondence he learned that the timetable has now slipped and it is now unlikely that work will start before August/September of this year.

Mr Pike said: "Clearly I am a little disappointed that the redevelopment of Burnley Central station has had to be delayed. However I share the commitment with Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council that we have to see that the redevelopment is done to a high standard.

"The work on the station was due to start imminently but will now not begin until August or September. However they still hope to complete it in the current financial year.

"I understand that there was a poor response to the original tender and that the work has now gone out for re-tender. I am hopeful that this time we will get the right response and be able to contract for this work and move forward swiftly.

"I want to see a decent new station at Burnley Central at an early date. I wrote to the press in the early 1960s before I moved to Burnley complaining about the old Burnley Central Station and have never stopped pressing for change at the station since! We have seen improvements of course since then but I still believe that the people of Burnley deserve yet better.

"This station is one of the key gateways into Burnley for people arriving into the town on passenger transport and at the moment the station and surrounding area are not as welcoming as they need to be if we are to send out a positive message and give a good impression of the town to our visitors."

County Council proposals were unveiled last year to demolish the old building and replace it with a futuristic station with ticket office, waiting area, disabled access and CCTV.

The Strategic Rail Authority, Lancashire County Council, the borough council, First North Western and the East Lancashire Partnership will spend £500,000 rebuilding Burnley Central, which is used by passengers travelling to all stops along the Blackpool to Colne route.