A SERIES of court battles centred around an alleged slippery floor could cost a council tens of thousands of pounds, it was claimed today.

Solicitors firm Farleys is taking on Blackburn with Darwen Council amid claims that a market hall floor is a danger to the public.

The lawyers are representing eight people who claim they were injured after taking tumbles in the town's indoor market and are seeking compensation from the council's insurers.

The legal firm claims the floor in the Market Avenue link between the two buildings in Blackburn becomes dangerous and slippery when it gets wet.

It says clients suffered a wide range of injuries from broken wrists to sprained backs after falling on the floor.

The claims have been denied by the council. The firm also says it has been handed an engineers report on the market building which supports the evidence already gathered.

Farleys is preparing to take the cases to County Court over the summer and is busy gathering evidence.

Solicitors are keen to hear from people who slipped on the floor as they build their case against the council and their insurers Zurich Municipal. Michael Corrigan, a partner at the firm, said: "We believe there are a lot of people who have slipped and fallen on the floor. There is no doubt this floor gets slippery and dangerous when it becomes wet and we are positive we will win these cases.

"If we are successful this floor is likely to cost the council tens of thousands in extra insurance premiums and legal costs."

He added: "We are urging anyone who has had a similar experience with the floor to get in touch with us." A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "The floor is non-slip and is used in many similar establishments to ours across the country.

"The floor is cleaned and patrolled regularly and if there is a problem it is reported immediately.

"As far as we are concerned there is not a problem in the market and we are satisfied with the surface."

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