THE COST of updating Blackburn's police facilities will be £500,000 more than originally expected, but design work is due to start next month after months of wrangling.

Government officials gave the £7.3million project the seal of approval last year.

The ambitious scheme includes a total refurbishment of the run-down Victorian building in Northgate and the construction of a purpose-built station on the outskirts of town. The station will act as custody suite and will be located close to the motorway network at Whitebirk.

The out of town site will cost £500,000 more than originally expected and will be bring the total cost of the project close to £8million.

Lancashire police bosses claim working conditions at the Blackburn building are cramped and unsuitable.

Most weekends, Blackburn prisoners have to be ferried to stations across the county because of lack of space in the custody suite.

And a recent restructure of the force has also created extra pressure because Blackburn acts as headquarters for a large division.

The Home Office has agreed to pay half the extra cash and the police will find the rest from their reserves.

It is hoped that the new station, complete with cells, will be built by April, 2001 with the Northgate station refurbishment complete by May, 2003.

Police chiefs were told last September that they would have to draw up a business plan with investors from the business community.

A Manchester-based contractor has been appointed to run the scheme and design work is expected to get under way next month.

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