A HOME builder today apologised to residents after noisy work was carried out at a demolished hotel site.

People living near the County Hotel redevelopment site on Preston New Road in Blackburn complained after workmen carried on later than the agreed restricted times.

Developers Fairclough Homes have apologised on behalf of their subcontractors for "the demolition work carried out over the weekend and for any inconvenience caused."

It was agreed between residents and Blackburn with Darwen Council that work by Fairclough Homes Ltd would not be carried out after 12pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays to minimise inconvenience to neighbouring residents.

But residents are furious that the restrictions are being ignored.

Catherine May of Eden Park said: "We have already lived in a building site for two years with various developments and this is the final straw.

"I approached the workers on Saturday myself but they were sub-contractors and said they knew nothing about it."

A spokesman for Fairclough Homes, said: "We are speaking to all our contractors to ensure they are fully aware of the restrictions outlined in the planning consent to make sure this does not happen again."

But Peter Kuit, assistant director for regeneration, said: "The conditions of the agreement are such that no construction work should be carried out at the stated times.

"This was the case at the weekend as builders began digging foundations which is clearly construction and not demolition."

And Coun Alan Jones, a member of the planning committee said: "Any work carried out on this site must abide by the restrictions and limits agreed and they have no right to work when they should not."

Fairclough Homes is developing 80 new properties on the 5.9 acre site, namely 30 flats and 50 semi-detached and terraced houses.

Mrs May added: "They say this is supposed to be a consultation process but if building restrictions are not abided by, it makes a mockery of the whole process."