A MAJOR facelift has transformed a 150-year-old railway viaduct in Blackburn.

The £105,000 project involved improving and strengthening Cob Wall viaduct with stone cleaning, re-pointing and the installation of new trackside railings.

The scheme was a joint venture between Blackburn City Challenge, Lancashire County Council and Railtrack as part of the East Lancashire Railside Revival Initiative.

City Challenge chief executive Janet Bradbury said the plan complemented many other key City Challenge flagship sites in the borough, including new housing schemes at Harwood Gate and Pelham Street and improvement work along Beechwood Road.

Blackburn Council leader Malcolm Doherty said the viaduct had been neglected for many years and the work would help improve the appearance of the area for the benefit of rail users and local people.

Bob Clark, county council public transport chairman, added: "The improvement of Cob Wall is one of a number of lineside improvements that have been made in Blackburn and along the Clitheroe line and I look forward to continuing the successful Railside Revival Initiative."

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