AN 'eyesore' former mill site is to be transformed with a little help from its neighbours.

Volunteers are on a mission to improve the former Belgrave Mill site, on Bolton Road, with a special tribute to Darwen.

The site, which was demolished in 2006, will see the old and crumbly hoarding boards that surround the site replaced with new ones, decorated with images inspired by the Darwen community.

The project will be managed by a group of volunteer including student artists, local photographers and designers, who will be working to create something that is a 'true representation of the town'.

Katherine Lucarz,project co-ordinator from Work at Over Darwen House, said: “We were approached by Blackburn with Darwen Council who offered us the funding to improve the site in Spring.

“We wanted to decorate the boards with something community based rather than have the space used for adverts or marketing posters.

“Since then we have been worked with Darwen Aldridge Community Academy pupils and Blackburn university students to create a concept that would showcase Darwen’s identity.”

The group devised a concept of 'People, Place and Pride' and aims to showcase the people behind the big businesses in Darwen, the places people love and the pride residents have in their town.

Ms Lucarz said: “This is our chance to create something really unique and vibrant.

“As as a team we are trying to create something that people will want to cross the road to look at.”

The team behind the project have produced a short survey to gage what the people of Darwen would like to see on the boards.

Ms Lucarz said: “We would love as much feedback as possible.

“The survey is a chance for people to share their views

“We want to get a sense of what people feel about Darwen and what the town means to them.”

Claire Turner, town centre development manager at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The Belgrave Mill area is an important gateway into the town and is in desperate need of tidying up.

“The project will smarten up the area and create something that is distinctive and represents what we have in Darwen, as well as supporting the creative community.”

The group hope to have the project completed by October.

Visit katherine79.typeform.com/to/V6U5ej to complete the survey.