REGENERATION chiefs have said the closure of a town centre pub is another step towards the long-awaited revamp of a run-down part of Blackburn's shopping area.

The Blob Shop on Church Street is set to close on Saturday January 20, helping to pave the way for the re-birth of Lord Square according to council bosses.

A spokesman for Yates's which owns the Blob Shop chain said the pub would close when their lease on the building ran out after "disappointing returns".

Adam Howard of Yates' marketing department said: "We are actively looking for a new site - not necessarily for a Blob Shop, but for a Yates's Wine Lodge."

But Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, Councillor Ashley Whalley, said the pub's closure along with moves by other traders would open the way for redevelopment of Lord Square.

He said: "The redevelopment of Lord Square is crucial to the regeneration of the town centre, and it's the shared intention of Standard Life and the council to see the maximum redevelopment rather than the minimum. Market research by both Standard Life and ourselves shows that there is a huge demand for more up-market shopping in Blackburn and we will be shortly doing a joint presentation about the impact of redevelopment to a panel who fit into this category."

Coun Whalley said the aim was to attract shops such as Gap, Waterstones, Monsoon and Pastimes into the town.

Early next month development managers from a range of "high quality" retail shops are to be brought to Blackburn in a bid to lure them to a revamped town centre.

A spokeswoman for Standard Life confirmed the Blob Shop lease had expired and not been renewed.

She said: "We are consulting with the council and various other parties where people try to find the right answer for Lord Square."