POLICE have submitted plans to turn a disused part of Blackburn Railway Station into their new town centre base.

Bosses at Lancashire Police revealed last week that they wanted to take over empty offices at the recently renovated railway station when a new £8million divisional headquarters is completed in the spring.

The new complex, at Whitebirk, will house many of the facilities currently based at Blackburn's police station in Northgate.

But police chiefs still want a town centre presence which can be accessed easily, and are now planning to lease and develop part of the railway station, which also looks over Blackburn Boulevard.

Three planning applications have been submitted to council chiefs, according to Blackburn with Darwen Council's weekly planning lists.

The force has had to apply for permission to carry out extensive internal alternations to the property which is a listed building.

It has also had to apply for separate permission to refurbish the building.

An application has also been submitted for permission to place illuminated signs around the property.

The applications are likely to be discussed at a future meeting of the planning and highways committee rather than just approved by officers.

The new town centre police station will be housed to the right of the current railway station foyer where the ticket office is based.