A MUCH-criticised revamped town centre street has been closed to traffic yet again while paving stones are repaired.

And town hall bosses are warning there is more disruption to come for the street in the near future.

All traffic will be banned from Ainsworth Street while further renovation work is carried out.

Blackburn's busiest road has been plagued with problems since the start of the major improvement works in the town centre.

Bus lanes had to be rebuilt after it was revealed they were too narrow for drivers to negotiate and shelters have also been repositioned.

The bungle cost council tax payers £4,000 and Blackburn Transport later revealed it lost £15,000 a week during the refurbishment work.

After the work was completed, several sections of the specially-designed brickwork on pedestrian crossings was replaced after coming loose under the weight of the heavy traffic. The council decided to close off Ainsworth Street on Wednesday night to repair a flagstone.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "It was only a minor repair and took a few hours to complete.

"Sand under the flagstone had moved and needed to be replaced. I suppose that sort of thing could happen again and a repeat of the fault is something we can not rule out.

"Ainsworth Street will have to close again in the near future for further refurbishments.

"The outside of the footbridge over Ainsworth Street and the rotunda will be clad in the same material as the shopping centre.

"We still do not know how long the work will take nor when it will be carried out."

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