CONSTRUCTION contractors Thomas Barnes Group have called in their lawyers over the termination of the contract to build Blackburn's new bus station as market traders step up demands for compensation over delays to the project.

On Friday, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the borough council had sacked the Bury-based company from the £4.7million scheme over slow progress.

It is looking for a replacement contractor, which could take six weeks, to complete the bus station by its latest December deadline, 12 months late.

Angry market stallholders are sending a petition to Blackburn with Darwen Council chief executive Harry Catherall demanding a meeting to discuss compensation for lost trade.

The decision to terminate the contact with Barnes followed weeks of legal negotiations between the council, the construction firm and project managers Capita.

The Bury company's director Thomas Barnes said: “The whole matter is now in the hands of our legal advisors.”

They also expanded on their concerns over the design of the station by Capita saying: "It was only in April of this year, in response to our concerns, that Blackburn Borough Council asked our permission for independent structural engineers to enter the site and inspect the structural integrity of the structure which had deflected excessively when part loaded.

"Though we have requested a copy of the report/results of the independent investigation, the council has refused to provide a copy."

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed the two firms were in dispute over the question of whether the novel steel structure supporting the fibre-glass roof and the plate glass side panels was sufficient to support the structure in all conditions.

Borough regeneration boss Phil Riley said the independent report had not yet been completed and added: "Barnes taking further legal advice is not unexpected.

"It would have been surprising if they had not done so."

Capita declined to add to their previous statement that the company 'is continuing to work with the council on the delivery of the Blackburn bus station'.

Market trader Sharon Cosgrove, who runs the Fur and Feathers pet stall near its Ainsworth Street entrance, revealed 48 of the 60 stallholders had so far signed a petition to Mr Catherall, 'inviting him to site to discuss our issues regarding the ongoing bus station troubles'.

She said: "We need compensation to survive. You can't go on juggling your finances when there's nothing left to juggle."

Mohammed Sabbir, of MSB Computers, said: "The council must give us financial compensation. More traders are thinking of leaving. We are all very angry."

Malcolm Marden, of Whitakers butchers, said: “I have signed the petition. We all need help from the council."

A council spokesman said: “We share the traders’ concern and disappointment. We are happy to meet them.”