BUS bosses have been left red-faced after Burnley's £3.2 million bus station was opened -- with a series of spelling errors on the stands.

Three villages have been mis-spelled at the state of the art station leaving some commuters baffled.

The displays say Hampton instead of Hapton, Pandleside for Pendleside and Worsthore rather than Worsthorne.

The errors are on boards displaying timetables.

Worsthorne councillor Tony Lambert said today: "Things like this really shouldn't happen, especially after so much money has been spent on the bus station.

"It is a silly error and although I don't know who is responsible, it seems shoddy in a development like this that something like this was not checked."

Coun Lambert said he would be visiting the bus station later today to see the errors for himself.

And Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "These are obviously very silly mistakes to make and really should not have happened. It shouldn't overshadow the fact that we are getting a new bus station fit for the 21st century, but it will be an embarrassment for the borough council and the county council.

"The signs were obviously done by people who are not local."

The flagship development, which is seven weeks behind schedule, will provide an indoor waiting area, 18 departure bays, electronic display boards, a tourist information centre, a newsagent, toilet facilities and a taxi rank.

The buses will now be moved off the adjacent roads on to the new site between Centenary Way and Croft Street, it is not the end of works as highway improvements are set to last for a further five weeks.

The bus station has been jointly developed by Burnley Council and Lancashire County Council since October 8 last year. The original works were expected to take 40 weeks, which would have meant completion in the first week of July -- but then the delays came.

Principal architect at Burnley Council Andrew Rolfe has admitted the 40-week timescale was a bit ambitious for such a major project

He said the work no sooner began when bad weather delayed the erection of the steel structures which in turn delayed the whole process as contractors had also agreed to carry out works on other sites.

From this Tuesday Croft Street will become one way and will be restricted to buses and Hackney cabs although traders will be allowed delivery access to premises at certain times of day.

All cars will be directed to use the new 'Tesco' traffic light junction on Centenary Way with Red Lion Street which will become operational first thing Tuesday when Red Lion Street returns to two-way traffic.

The council is hoping to hold an official opening in October -- 12 months since work began.

Burnley and Pendle Travel or the councils could not be contacted for comment today.