FOUR of Blackburn's and Darwen's green spaces have been put on a national list of historic gardens and parks.

Council chiefs called for the parks to be included in the English Heritage List in hopes of bringing extra Lottery cash into the town.

Public parks on the register also get extra protection from developers looking for open spaces to build on.

Seven parks in the borough were assessed by the Government-appointed Inspector of Parks and Gardens earlier this year.

Town hall bosses decided to call in the inspector on the advice of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Corporation Park, Whitehall Park, Bold Venture Park and Sunnyhurst Wood have all made it on to the list. Blackburn with Darwen Council is still waiting for a final decision on Witton Country Park and Queen's Park.

Inspectors decided Roe Lee Park does not have enough historical interest to allow it on the register.

Council bosses have already drawn up two schemes which would rely on National Lottery cash.

There are £1 million plans to refurbish the troubled Corporation Park which has been badly hit by crime and vandalism in recent years.

The town hall has put together a package of improvements in a bid to breathe new life into the park.

And plans have also been drawn up for a nine hole golf course at Queen's Park.

The scheme would need at least £300,000 to get off the ground.

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