COUNCIL bosses have unveiled plans to rejuvenate a Blackburn town centre eyesore - but have been told there is plenty more work still to do.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration chiefs hope to attract a new development to land off Salford, currently part vacant and part occupied by a row of rundown shops.

Trading bosses today welcomed the announcement, saying the site was ideal for a national retailer. Blackburn with Darwen Council owns 90 per cent of it, with the remaining 10 per cent being negotiated for.

Only one shop remains on the site, an upholsterers, the owners of which are also negotiating with the council.

The news came after the council led calls for shopping centre owners Standard Life to carry out urgent improvement work in Lord Square.

But the council has also been urged to carry out renovation work elsewhere in the town, starting with the outside of the market building in Penny Street.

The pedestrianisation of Church Street is expected to attract more shoppers, and Ronnie O'Keeffe, president of the Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, reckons a new shop on Salford would do the same.

He said: "It is brilliant news to hear the council are looking to market the site.

"It is the ideal place for a national retailer to come to because they can build the sort of unit they want.

"There is very little available space in the town centre and it is important the big shops come to the town centre as well as to Townsmoor, where Wicks and so on are based."

Ray Goldstone, chairman of the Blackburn Market Tenants Association, said: "It should increase footfall in this area of town.

"We now the council is continuing to improve the market, and hopefully that will make it look more attractive."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive director for regeneration, Graham Burgess, said: "This area is an important site of the development of Blackburn town centre and we aim to explore various ways to regenerate this important gateway as part of our overall strategy."

At the same time, phased improvements to Blackburn Market are set to continue, the council has confirmed.

Lord Sqaure owners Standard Life say they don't have the resources to carry out renovations unless they can put up rent -- and that means more shoppers coming to the town.

This week, a planning application has been submitted to the council for a further extension to the Townsmoor retail Park. Nova Scotia Mill is set to be replaced by a giant DIY store, the identity of which has not been revealed.