WORK has started on renovating an area of Darwen Town Centre which has been derelict for months.

The site of the former Darwen Area Housing Office at The Circus has been fenced off since the building was demolished before Christmas.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council is working to resurface the area and level it off with paving.

But Coun Dave Hollings said a new sculpture which is also being put there would be a marvellous addition to the area. He said: "A Millennium Marker will be put in that area. I think it is going to cost about £20,000 and the money will be provided by the Millennium Commission.

"This will make the area much nicer and provide a better environment for shoppers."

Coun Hollings said the paving work will last until Easter and the sculpture will appear in Autumn.