GRANITE from China and Italy is being laid as part of the £2million pedestrianisation of a once traffic-clogged town centre street.

Council bosses today revealed they were running ahead of schedule with the revamp of Blackburn's Church Street and could have the redevelopment -- part of an £11million overall regeneration strategy for Blackburn town centre -- completed before the April 2002 deadline.

After more than two months of digging and preparation, the new-look Church Street -- which will include pavement cafes, lavish shrubberies and a prestigious public arts scheme -- will finally begin to take shape next week when the first granite paving stones arrive.

First the Italian stones will be laid, followed by ones imported from China. Both styles have been approved by English Heritage, which is part funding the scheme.

China and Italy are two of the world's main sources of granite -- and contractor Tarmac had to get the stock from those countries because it was the only type which matched the colour scheme for the street.

No exact breakdown of cost has been made public.

Foundations will also be laid for the first of the new public art monuments next week. A waterfall sculpture, one of several which will make up the 'Transitions' series, representing Blackburn's historic past, is expected to be installed first. On Monday, work will begin to resurface Higher Church Street and the top of Darwen Street. The road will remain open for traffic though with a temporary new turning created for traffic moving into Darwen Street.

The exit from Fleming Square will need to be closed intermittently while work is carried out, but Fleming Square will become open to two way traffic and the car park will remain open at all times.

Councillor Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration, said: "I am delighted at the progress of the works so far. The sunny weather means the contractors can be on site for longer. We are well on schedule and in the next few weeks we should start to see the shape of things to come.

"We are committed to regenerating Blackburn town centre and I would like to thank shoppers for remaining loyal to the town while the work is going on and would urge them to continue to do so.

"The town centre is being transformed and we are delighted with the progress that has been made!"