STREET art and prominent buildings schemes across Blackburn are in line for prestigious prizes at an art ceremony tomorrow night.

A civic award scheme has been organised for the town's buildings and public works of art.

Many familiar locations from pubs to industrial estates will come under scrutiny by judges.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and pub chain Weatherspoons are just some of the organisations in line for awards.

The competition has been organised by the town's Civic Society who want to give organisations recognition for improving Blackburn in the run-up to the new millennium.

Refurbishment projects which have been short-listed for awards include the conversion of Blackburn's former post office into the Postal Order pub and the ongoing revamp of the town's rundown Victorian railway station. Landscape projects to have caught the judges' eye include the newly created Civic Gardens in Jubilee Street in Blackburn and work carried out at the approach to Shadsworth Industrial Estate. The revamp of King William Street in Blackburn town centre and the redevelopment of The Boulevard have been included on the short-list along with the Arran Trail at Shadsworth.

The Hawthorns School and the Benefits Agency building on Barbara Castle Way have been included in the new buildings category.

But the area likely to prompt the most debate is the public art section.

Prominent works up for a prize include the popular Mother and Child statue in The Boulevard and the cathedral's recently renovated Lantern Tower.

Other more controversial selections include the decorative gates close to Blackburn town hall and the cyclist statue made out of scrap metal at the Groundwork Environment Centre.

The eye-catching and controversial metal tree sculpture on Greenbank roundabout has also been nominated for a prize in the public art category.

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