A NEW car garage in Darwen has apologised to residents after putting 40 vehicles on land without permission.

Residents and councillors have been angered after Croft Trade Centre used flat-loading lorries to deliver the vehicles to a car park off Avondale Road.

The site is attached to a unit in Blackburn Road which will be the firm's new car showroom.

But Coun Dave Smith and residents have been left concerned that the cars have been put on site without planning permission.

The firm intends to open on the site after moving from a base in Eclipse Mill, Feniscliffe, Blackburn, and a mill in Rhyddings Street, Oswaldtwistle, which was wrecked in a fire last month.

A spokesperson for Croft Trade Centre, said: “We have apologised to the councillor and have asked him to pass our apologies in to residents.

"The car park currently has 40 cars which is surplus stock when we merged both sites and moved to Darwen.

“We are hoping after 14 days, if all goes to plan, they will no longer be there and the car park will be used for staff only and will have around six cars.

“We intend to operate the forecourt from the front of the premises in Blackburn Road.”

Sunnyhurst Councillor Dave Smith said the area was 'unsuitable for so many cars'.

He said: “It’s unsafe, they are doing something without planning permission, the roads aren’t suitable, it’s a residential area and it’s not fair on the residents.

"The proper channels have not been gone through."

A resident who declined to be named said feelings were running high and in danger of 'getting a bit out of hand'.

He said: "We should have had the chance to object and the right to attend a planning meeting for the change of use."

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said they were aware of the situation.

He said: “Although planning permission has not been granted for this use on the site, the company has assured the council they will be applying within the next four weeks.

“It will then be subject to the normal planning process and considered in due course.”