A TOWN centre bus stop will have to be relocated for up to three months while a road is strengthened.

Work will begin on Peggy Brook Culvert, which runs underneath the A666 in Darwen, later this month.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council bosses say the bus stop outside Ethel Austin, in Market Street, will have to be moved to the Green for the length of the works after original plans stated it would only be relocated for part of the time.

Repairs are due to be carried out in two phases and will cover the carriageway works in Green Street and the bus lane in Market Street, with a portion of the length of the culvert beneath the central island being included each.

Traffic access through the one way system is not expected to be affected.

Graham Cowley, assistant director of technical services at the council said: "The scheme has been designed to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure work can be completed as quickly as possible.

"It has been designed to keep any disruption for the public to a minimum which is why the work is taking place during the summer holidays when traffic flows are reduced and on-site works can go on for longer during the daylight summer hours.

"It had been hoped to move the bus stop for part of the works but now it will be relocated for the duration."