WORK will start on Monday on an 18-month project to give Blackburn one of the most modern railway stations in the North West.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw visited the Victorian station yesterday to meet rail bosses and see for himself the £5.5million plans to demolish the dilapidated buildings and roof and create a futuristic glass domed structure.

Mr Straw said he had received letters during his 20 years as Blackburn MP asking him to bring pressure to bear to get something done at the station.

He said the station was "draughty and falling to bits" and looked forward to the day he would be able to meet his children at the newly-refurbished station, before taking them to Ewood Park to watch Rovers.

He added: "The new station will give people, especially women, more of a sense of feeling secure and if people know that they will want to use the station."

Mr Straw took the first screw from one of the station's two ornate clocks starting the process by which they will be taken from the station and preserved before being restored once work is completed.

Railtrack chiefs also presented him with one of the decorative metal acorns which top the old fashioned railings at the station. Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Councillor Florence Oldfield also attended the event as did the chairman of the council's regeneration committee Councillor Andy Kay, chief executive Phil Watson and Hyndburn Council leader Councillor George Slynn.

Members of the Ribble Valley Rail User group were also present and they said they hoped the new station would increase the number of passengers using services and give their campaign for services to be re-introduced beyond Clitheroe and into Yorkshire more momentum.

Mr Straw later visited Blackburn town hall to present certificates to 30 firms which have been awarded a total of £200,000 to train workers.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has passed on money it has been awarded through the single regeneration budget to take people off the dole and train them.

Firms wanting to take on new staff can apply for the grants to help pay the costs of training.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.