MORE than 30 Darwen public footpaths are to be shut over the summer as work gets under way on the completion of a 30km gas pipe.

The paths are in the way of the new pipeline which will enable thousands of homes in East Lancashire to be connected to gas for the first time.

The paths, which cross moorland around Darwen, will be closed for the summer, starting on May 31.

Thirteen are in Tockholes, one in Belmont, 12 in Darwen and seven in Edgworth.

The 30km pipe runs from Samlesbury to Helmshore with much of the emphasis of the new phase of work around the Darwen area at the moment.

Last year, 2km of pipeline was laid across some of the most sensitive moorland areas in the county.

Now lorries have started delivering pipe to construction crews as work gets under way on completing the remaining 28km in time for the pipeline to go into action in September.

The high pressure pipeline, which is more than a metre in diameter, crosses 16 roads, including the M65 and the Rivers Darwen and Roddlesworth.

It also crosses the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Transco and contractors McConnell Dowell have employed environmental specialists to oversee all aspects of the project to make sure that rare plants and wildlife are not affected by the work.

Around 500 jobs will be created during the construction over the summer.

Jon Butterworth, director of Transco North West, said: "We have made excellent progress to date, despite all the odds.

"The outbreak of foot and mouth last year delayed construction.

"This resulted in our engineers working to lay and weld the pipeline across some of the most exposed moorland areas in the country in the notorious East Lancashire weather conditions.

"It is a great tribute to them that in one day alone , during the depths of winter, they were able to lay 500 metres of pipeline in its trench in the teeth of driving wind and rain."

He added: "We will try and keep disruption to a minimum."

People who want more information on the project can ring 01254 208181.