BUS bosses today put their weight behind new on-street parking charges and urged town centre workers to 'Dump the Pump' and start using public transport instead.

Blackburn Transport Managing Director Michael Morton spoke out after Blackburn with Darwen Council announced plans to charge up to 50p an hour for short-stay parking on streets in and around the town centre in 305 spaces which were previously free.

The charges will make Blackburn with Darwen Council up to £60,000 a year and have generally been welcomed by traders because it will mean town centre workers will no longer be able to clog up spaces.

Now Mr Morton hopes to encourage more people to start using public transport instead of driving into town.

The firm has brought in more than 20 low-floor single-decker buses so far this year and five of the largest double decker buses in Britain -- with 90 seats each -- go into operation on the Blackburn-Accrington route next month.

It has also launched a campaign to persuade people to 'think green' and travel by bus whenever they can.

Mr Morton said: "The parking plan is a very bold move on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and is in keeping with Government philosophy.

"Blackburn Transport provides frequent services from most parts of the borough into Blackburn and Darwen and has always maintained that charges will deter long term parkers, who should be using public transport to free up our roads."

Most traders have given the scheme their backing. Blackburn Chamber of Trade believe it will encourage more people to nip into town, while Phil Ainsworth, from the Darwen Street Traders Association, believes it will increase business in Darwen Street.

Mr Morton added: "We would have thought that most town centre traders would have taken the same stance as Phil Ainsworth because businesses almost always seem to succeed where short term parking is available, rather than cars being parked outside all day.

"Commuters travelling into town centres to work have a large number of bus services at their disposal and the cost of bus travel is dramatically cheaper than using or even owning a car."

Double decker buses are now being painted to urge people to 'dump the pump'.