AN extra £230,000 is to be spent giving one of Blackburn's main shopping streets a face-lift.

Council bosses have secured the cash to continue environmental improvements in Darwen Street.

Earlier grants paid for cobbling the stretch of road in front of Blackburn Cathedral.

New stone paving has also been laid along pavements between Church Street and Jubilee Street, along with new parking spaces.

Work is due to be completed on the first phase of the refurbishment within the next week.

It will then begin on the newly-funded phase, although it will be stopped in the run-up to Christmas so that festive trade is not disrupted.

The new cash, which has come from the North West Development Agency, will allow the scheme to be continued as far as George Street.

Tree planting and new street furniture will also complement the improvements. Additional car parking spaces will be installed along one side of Darwen Street.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "As an integral part of the town centre improvements, this work will give traders and shoppers an environment, which will encourage the present and future development of shopping in this area.

"We hope that while this next phase is going on everyone will understand the need for this work to be completed."

Philip Ainsworth, whose jewellery store is on part of the street to be refurbished, welcomed the news on behalf of Darwen Street Traders Association.

He said: "This is something we have wanted for the last 15 years and we are very pleased with the news that the improvements will now be taking place.

"We have worked with the council on the scheme and we are happy that this section of Darwen Street is to get the quality of materials and design that we both want."

It is hoped that Darwen Street can attract new quality shops and become a key shopping route linking Blackburn shopping centre to the retails parks in the Audley area.

Funding is being sought to complete the refurbishment right up to Darwen Street bridge, with a new landscaping feature in the centre of the Darwen Street/Mincing Lane fork.