A NEW website has been launched that aims to give a nostalgic glimpse into Blackburn’s past through a host of archive photographs.

The man behind www.blackburnnowandthen.co.uk hopes it can promote a sense of pride amongst the town’s residents over its proud history.

The website is the brainchild Darren Wilson, a 36-year-old designer who was brought up in Higher Croft, Blackburn, and now lives in Lower Darwen.

The website posts a photograph of the old Blackburn, such as Brownhill exchange in 1930, and runs an updated photograph right alongside it.

Mr Wilson, who runs design agency KP Studios, Lower Darwen, hopes the site can encourage debate amongst users and eventually lead to them posting their own archive photos of the town.

He said: “You hear so many people knocking the town but I’m proud to be from Blackburn and I think there is some great architecture in the town and I want to show that.”