A SOD-cutting ceremony takes place today to mark work starting on 98 new homes in the Queen Street and Hindle Street clearance area of Darwen.

Representatives of Twin Valley Homes Ltd, who are carrying out the work, will be joined by council officials and builders at the 3pm event.

The development will be called Orchard Grove and will feature a combination of two, three and four-bedroom properties along with two-bedroom bungalows, with some available for sale and others to rent.

The homes will feature the very latest green technology and will comply with level 4 of the code for sustainable homes standard and will provide high energy efficiency.