SHOPPERS and pedestrians have been promised that street art designed as the focal point of a £3.5million town centre revamp will be worth the wait.

The promise was made as it was revealed that the much-delayed Transitions statues in Church Street, Blackburn, should be in place during October.

Blackburn with Darwen Council unveiled plans for the five sculptures in February 2000 and commissioned Yorkshire artist Ian Randall to create works to highlight Blackburn's connection with the cotton trade.

Each sculpture represents a different stage in the development of the cotton plant. They are made from bronze, stainless steel, fibre optics and stone and three will have water features.

They were originally due to be installed over the summer but were delayed until September after one of them took longer to construct.

Then Mr Randall suffered a back injury which delayed the work even further. The statues will replace temporary pyramid structures spread along the newly-pedestrianised area.

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at the council, said: "We are hopeful they will all arrive in October but that could change again. I think they will look stunning and will be well worth the wait."

The first piece of artwork to arrive on the street has been installed.

The £25,000 Millennium Globe -- paid for with cash from Europe, like the Transitions statues -- is one of a pair commissioned by the council. The other is in Darwen.

Artist Sebastian Boysten has been in the borough now for more than a week, putting the final touches to the pieces.

He said the 'Woven Globes' are a statement that celebrates the commercial and industrial past of Blackburn and Darwen, but also acknowledges that as a society the area is part of a much larger whole, in which everyone all have a part to play.

The twin pieces were chosen by councillors and officers after a number of different designs were submitted by artists in 2000.

Sebastian, from South Wales, said: "I wanted to create something that celebrates both Blackburn and Darwen in a global context, looking at the interdependence that exists between different societies, races, and civilization in our shrinking world, whilst still retaining a site-specific link to Blackburn and Darwen."

Historically, the junction of Church Street and Darwen Street was the site of the old Market Cross and was the hub of the town for many years.

In the 1970's the Blackburn Shopping Centre was built which shifted the central shopping area north.

Councillor Kate Hollern, executive member for culture and leisure said: "I hope that residents and visitors to the borough are pleased with this fine piece of artwork as I am sure that the many different aspects of it will have a special meaning to them all."