CONSTRUCTION work on a major facelift of Blackburn's main shopping street will get under way next week.

The builders will move in on Monday, February 17, but shoppers will still be able to get to shops in King William Street.

The firm who carried out the revamp of the Boulevard, George Cox and Sons, has been awarded the £350,000 contract.

The scheme is expected to take about 20 weeks and has been funded by City Challenge and European regional development cash. Blackburn Council and Lancashire County Council are also backing the project.

The aim is to create a new public space outside the town hall, complete with landscaping and public art.

Local schoolchildren have also been involved in designing new features for the scheme. The long term aim is to bring extra shoppers to the area by offering street entertainment and public events.

New traffic regulations will keep cars away from the pedestrian area, and extra waiting and parking restrictions will be brought in on streets around Northgate and Sudell Cross.

Development services chairman Andy Kay said: "The first phase of the King William Street project covers the area in front of Mothercare and McDonalds.

"It is a high quality programme, and will replace the paving damage caused by the recent water main burst and will complement the other refurbishment work which has taken place in Blackburn town centre."

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