COUNCIL bosses today vowed to complete the building work on Blackburn's Church Street on time -- despite atrocious weather conditions.

Work on the £2.5million pedestrianisation project is due to be completed by the end of next month.

It is hoped the Church Street revamp will lead to more progress on Lord Square.

Its owners, Standard Life, are refusing to redevelop the site until more people begin shopping.

Builders had been ahead of schedule until about three weeks ago, when strong wind, rain and hail brought work to a temporary standstill.

But despite the weather -- which has led to flooding elsewhere in the county -- council bosses are confident they will catch up.

Graham Burgess, executive director for regeneration and technical at Blackburn with Darwen council said: "The building works to Church Street are on schedule to be complete by the end of March.

"Recent bad weather conditions have caused a slight delay of three to four days, but this time will be made up in the coming weeks."

Work has included cobbling parts of the street using granite imported from China and Italy.

When work is complete, six new pieces of public art will be brought into place.

They are part of a series called 'Transitions' designed to show Blackburn with Darwen's link to the cotton age and the Industrial Revolution.

Mr Burgess added: "We are still in discussions with artists for the exact date for delivery of the new sculptures."

Provision has been made for 20 short-stay parking spaces at the end of Church Street nearest TJ Hughes, designed for people using the banks and shops nearby.

Church Street, it is hoped, will play host to a cafe society.

Graham Burgess, Executive Director Regeneration and Technical Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.