CONCERNS double park was creating a danger has led to charity bosses and members taking matters into their own hands.

Businesses in George Street, Darwen said they have been left with no option but to put cones out to deter people from lining the street with their cars.

The situation has become particularly problematic, as the cars have been preventing articulated lorries from accessing the builders merchants on the street.

Julie Brindle, who manages old people’s welfare at Derwent Hall, contacted Blackburn with Darwen council to enquire about having double yellow lines painted outside the building. She said she was horrified to learn it would cost £5,000 to have the lines painted.

Mrs Brindle said: “When I heard the price I said send me the paint and I’ll paint them myself.

“There are lines in the area, but they’re all in the wrong place, they don’t help the situation at all.

“We had all spoken to the council and realised nothing was going to get done if we didn’t do it our selves.

“Travis Perkins donated the cones and I put them out every morning and take them in at night.

“It’s not ideal, but it has solved the problem.”

Mrs Brindle manages an independent charity that works out of Derwent Hall and offers a wide range of activities for the over 50’s.

The activities see older people making their way independently to the hall which, according to Mrs Brindle is what makes the situation so dangerous.

Mrs Brindle said “At the end of the road is a builders merchant and they have articulated lorries coming past.

“People coming from all over town congregate here for their lunch and are parking so the wagons can’t get past.

“The lorries are having to reverse along the junction and drive the wrong way down a one way street to get to the builders.”

Mrs Brindle first noticed how difficult the situation was for the lorry drivers last month when she saw one of them struggling to get through.

She said: “When I first saw it with my own eyes I though it was dangerous for road users, then I realised how dangerous it is for the elderly who are coming to use our services.

“People like to watch the wagons reverse, and the pavements aren’t brilliant, so someone stood with a walker could easily topple over and end up under the wagon.”

A spokesman from Blackburn with Darwen council said: “£5,000 is not a the standard charge for painting double yellow lines, it usually costs a couple of hundred pounds.

“The only reason it would cost so much more would be if they had to go through a traffic order.

“That is where the costs may spiral.”