BLACKBURN cathedral could be surrounded by a metal fence to stop drunks, vandals and prostitutes using the grounds at night.

Cathedral bosses are objecting to plans for another pub in Darwen Street and say if the scheme is approved they would have no choice but to secure the area.

The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, said a fence, similar to the spiked railings on the Boulevard side of the ground, would be put up.

Gates would be locked at night and a side entrance would also be blocked.

The churchmen say they already regularly find used condoms and syringes scattered around the historic building's grounds.

They fear that two new night-time venues built opposite the cathedral could make its dimly-lit grounds a further target for prostitutes who have already been moved on from other areas by the police.

Details of the cathedral's concerns are revealed in a report to the planning and highways committee of Blackburn with Darwen Council, due to meet tonight.

But despite the concerns, the council's planning officers are advising the new pub scheme by Luminar Leisure be given the go-ahead.

Marc Mallam, the cathedral's development manager said: "This type of public house would appeal to only a limited market of younger 18-25 age groups.

"The cathedral would want the area to appeal as wide a range of potential users as possible.

"With Luminar's other new venture and the Postal Order pub, this proposal would thus enhance the image of the cathedral conservation area as being the red light district of Blackburn, thereby setting precedents for further intensification of these and other undesirable uses."

"This huge out-of-scale proposal for a public house would create a culturally conflicting use immediately opposite the main entrance to the Cathedral possibly leading to intimidation of cathedral users by younger patrons of the pub, especially on weekend evenings.

"It is also likely to create a significant increase in noise, vandalism and litter nuisance. The cathedral already has a problem from both litter, including condoms, needles, bottles and cans, and vandalism on a Saturday night.

"This proposal would dramatically exacerbate these problems."

And the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, today urged the committee to insist Luminar pays for the fence.

Mr Armstrong added that he was asking the council to refuse the scheme, on the grounds that it would wreck plans to regenerate Darwen Street as a shopping area.

He added: "If the planning authority does grant permission, we would ask for a suitable contribution from the developers to help us fence off the cathedral precinct from Darwen Street.

"We would also ask for a suitable contribution to cover additional maintenance of Darwen Street and the cathedral precinct."

Luminar Leisure, which owns The Iron Works in Burnley and Tokyo Jo's in Preston, wants to transform two shops in Darwen Street -- directly opposite the cathedral -- into a trendy pub.

It would fill the old Little Sheffield ironmongers building as well as Haworths furniture store, which is also relocating.

It would be the second new non-retail venue to open in the area. Just yards away in St Peter Street, Luminar will open Jumpin Jak's in the former Mecca bingo hall tonight.

The cathedral has already fought off one application for a new pub venue near to their precinct after councillors refused plans to use the old Carrotts building for a club.

Sgt Phil Davies of Blackburn Police said: "We are aware of problems in the town around the cathedral and will continue to carry out regular patrols there."