BLACKBURN'S pedestrianised Church Street is to be re-opened to traffic every night this week as workers try to complete town centre improvements.

But the move has been seized on by critics of Blackburn with Darwen Council.

They claim the multi-million redevelopment has become beset with problems.

Highways chiefs will shut Darwen Street and divert traffic down Church Street between midnight and 5am.

Council bosses are confident they can prevent the roadworks over-running into the crucial pre-Christmas shopping period.

Church Street was shut off to traffic in May 2001, despite fierce opposition from traders who said it would wreck business.

Around £2.5million has been spent on cobbling the street and creating a 'streetscape' which was designed to become the focal point of town centre activity.

But overnight this week, vehicles will be allowed to go from Higher Church Street, along Church Street and on to Salford or Railway Road when Darwen Street is closed.

Council bosses have always maintained that Church Street had to be done first to ensure all the work funded by European money was completed within timescales set down by the EU.

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at the council, said: "On three nights between October 14 and 18 from midnight to 5am, Darwen Street will be closed while work on the second phase of the refurbishment is carried out."

Coun Alan Cottam, Conservative spokesman for regeneration, said: "We have always said closing Church Street in the first place was a big mistake.

"Work on all the areas should have been done first before closing Church Street.

"The whole scheme has caused so many problems."

Coun Edward Harrison, a Conservative councillor, wrote a report criticising the plan to close Church Street in the first place.

He said the council had no control over which vehicles would use Church Street.

It could not predict what damage might be done.

Coun Paul Browne, leader of the Lib Dems, said: "They can't stop a massive lorry coming down and damaging the cobbles."

Ronnie O'Keeffe, president of Blackburn's Chamber of Trade, said: "Anything which speeds up work in Darwen Street has to be welcome. We have suggested the idea of work taking place overnight before."