BLACKBURN was once known across the world for its mill chimneys.

But now there are just four left in the former ‘weaving capital of the world’.

Heritage experts have called for the remaining chimneys to be protected.

Their call comes as one of the few remaining large-scale chimneys in Mill Hill, the area named after its industrial heritage, is demolished.

Pioneer Mill, New Wellington Street, is in the process of being dismantled to make way for a residential development.

Planning committee chairman Jim Smith, who represents the Mill Hill ward, said: “In my view it’s called Mill Hill for a reason, and a landmark like a chimney should be kept.”

Newly-formed heritage group Blackburn Civic Voice said there were now just four remaining free standing mill chimneys across the whole of the town.

These are at Star Paper Mill, Feniscowles, Boyle Street, Didsbury Street and the former Mullards plant at Witton Business Park, set to be given a multimilion pound makeover by new owners the Adhan Group.

Professor David Smalley, of Blackburn Civic Voice, said chimneys did not have special planning status, making it harder to protect them from demolition.

He added: “We are getting to the stage where we are running out of heritage.

“These chimneys are an integral part of the mills. It’s like having a water mill without a water wheel.

“When I was a child there were about 200 chimneys belching out smoke, and it was a sign of prosperity. Now we have only four significant chimneys left. There are some other ones but they are not as large.”

The arrival of the textile industry in the 1700s dramatically transformed Blackburn from a relatively small market town to the largest cotton weaving town in Lancashire.

Wherever there was a fast flowing stream there was a source of power and water mills, cottages, shops, and support services developed. Inventors came up with better ways to spin and weave, canals were built, coal was harnessed as a fuel source, and factories were born.

From the mid-18th to the early 20th century, Blackburn became 'the weaving capital of the world', with the population increasing from less than 5,000 to more than 130,000.

Tens of spinning and weaving mills were built between 1797 and 1890.