BLACKBURN with Darwen Council is to almost completely shut down its operations for the day today in a bid to save £3million.

And the drastic measure will be repeated 11 times over the next three years.

Chief executive Graham Burgess said about 90 per cent of council activities would be closed for the day, including Blackburn and Darwen town halls, children’s centres and libraries.

Staff had previously agreed to take four days of unpaid leave per year, and bosses have decided to do it all on the same day to reduce overtime and office costs.

Mr Burgess said: “You can’t save £1million a year without affecting services”.

Services deemed ‘essential’, including rubbish collection and emergency social services, will continue to operate.

Leisure centres will also stay open.

Unions agreed the measure as part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s £33mllion cuts.

In a statement, the council apologised for the disruption and said the closure days would always be attached to bank holidays.

Council leader Kate Hollern said: “Staff have agreed to take unpaid leave as part of the £33m savings needed this financial year.

"The days have been attached to bank holidays for extra savings as main council buildings will close on those days.”

Unison rep Russell Critchley said more money would be saved by having the leave on the same days.

The council could not confirm how many staff would be taking leave today, but it would be ‘the majority’.

Conservative opposition leader Mike Lee said: “I suppose that doing it this way gets it out the way in one go, and means that services shouldn’t be affected for more than one day.”