A STEEL and glass staircase will replace Blackburn shopping centre's clock tower - but whether it will have a clock remains a mystery.

Bosses at London-based The Mall and Blackburn with Darwen Council planners are close' to concluding negotiations on the final design for the tower in King William Street.

But they said no decision had yet been made on whether it would include a timepiece, as requested by the council.

The staircase forms part of a £45million revamp that was due to start in September but has been delayed until spring because of planning red tape.

When the scheme was granted planning permission in January the firm was told to re-draw plans for the tower as the designs did not include a timepiece.

The tower, which houses a lift and staircase to the car park, was originally built in the 1960s when Blackburn Shopping Centre replaced the Victorian market hall.

It had included a much-loved clock tower. Knocking down the original clock tower was called one of the biggest travesties in the town's history and the 1960s concrete clock tower has been described as one of the worst buildings in Blackburn'. Loraine Jones, manager of The Mall Blackburn, said: "We want to replace the staircase that's there at the moment with something that's glass and steel. There is definitely no decision on what the final design will be, it would be premature for us to say one way or the other at the moment," she added. "We are still working with the council."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "The clock formed part of the original discussions around the shopping centre and following discussions with The Mall we are now waiting for revised designs."