BOYS from the blackstuff moved on to Blackpool Airport this week to resurface the main runway in readiness for winter flights to Tenerife and Alicante.

An engineering team is working throughout the night for three weeks replacing the landing strip's worn top coat at a cost of £500,000.

More than 1,000 tons of tarmac are being hauled in 300 truck-loads for the work, being completed under arc lights on the mile-long runway.

Blackpool Airport managing director Garry Eastwood said: "We are keenly aware that a large number of people live in homes along the airport's southern and northern boundaries and we promise to keep noise levels down to an absolute minimum during the night to avoid disturbing their sleep. "But this is essential maintenance - Blackpool Airport is used regularly by much larger and faster aircraft than at any time before. Every time a big and heavily laden Boeing or Airbus lands or takes off for Tenerife, Alicante or elsewhere it has an eroding impact on the runway surface.

"Even the lightest aircraft cause a little bit of wear and tear. On some days 200 or more aircraft can touch down at Blackpool Airport and just like a busy motorway or city centre street the runway eventually becomes worn and needs repairing.

"Access to the passenger terminal will not be affected, nor will our flight schedules."

Regular flights to the Canaries and Costa Blanca re-start on November 2, with currency exchange facilities open for each flight.

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