CYCLISTS are to share the footpath with pedestrians in an attempt to make it safer for pupils at two schools in Padiham.

Work is now underway to widen the existing footpath along part of busy Burnley Road, which will mean cyclists can share it with pedestrians and keep away from traffic.

The scheme is set to benefit pupils at Shuttleworth College and Padiham County Primary School and has been funded by transport charity Sustrans, with the work carried out by the county council.

Bob Wakefield, headteacher at Shuttleworth College, said: “We will be delighted to have this route in place that will help our young people to safely get to school by foot and by bike.

“When the school first opened in 2009 we saw no use of the cycle storage.

“Now we see plenty of bikes.

“It is a healthy way to keep active and the off-road routes around our school are now used within the school curriculum,” he added.

The new scheme is part of a wider Burnley and Padiham Greenway network of both on-road and off-road routes for cyclists and pedestrians, which has developed over recent years thanks to infrastructure improv-ements totalling £3million.

It also joins up the existing Padiham and Sweetclough Greenway routes.

Construction of the route between River Drive and Kiddrow Lane began in early July and is planned to be completed by the end of August.

Once complete, the pathway on the north side of Burnley Road will be open for pedestrians and cyclists from River Drive through to Lakeland Way.