DARWEN'S jobs boom in India Mill has caused traffic chaos on the town's major road.

More than 500 new posts were created as private firm Capita brought contracts with the Criminal Records Bureau and TV Licensing to town.

But the new employees, together with workers at other new small businesses, have started parking their cars on both sides of nearby Bolton Road, causing severe traffic delays during rush hour. Nearby business owners today demanded a solution and told how the problems had caused them to lose customers.

Police and council officers have come together to discuss ideas for a restricted parking system along the road. They propose that vehicles may only be able to park for short periods, to stop employees leaving their cars all day.

Sgt Stuart Isherwood, of the road policing unit, said: "We are aware of the problems. Cars parking in the area is preventing vehicle access. We are looking into it and hopefully it will be sorted out.

"The police would like parking restrictions more than anything. These would be put in various places to protect junctions where parking isn't safe."

David Bentley, the owner of Tower Glass, in Bolton Road, felt yellow lines were the solution. He said: "People are parking on our car park. We get a lot of heavy goods vehicles which cannot make the deliveries. We are losing customers because they cannot park.

"It has all started since the new jobs. We are putting notices on motorists' windscreens asking them not to park here. In rush hour it's horrendous."

Elaine Cooney, joint owner of Belgrave Antiques Centre, in Bolton Road, said she was against yellow lines as it would "kill" passing trade. She said: "We are in favour of restricted parking for an hour, instead. The traffic problems are affecting us big-style by taking away customers who would normally park up outside. It is causing chaos during rush hour and, as they are double parking, lorries nearly scrape the parked cars as they pass. Also, we are unable to load our vans on the main road because all the spaces are taken."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, which entered into a public/private partnership with Capita, said: "The parking issue around India Mill, Darwen, has been brought to our attention and steps to address safety problems and improve traffic flow around the area are currently under discussion."

John Friar, of Brookhouse Holdings plc which owns the mill, declined to comment.