A £2.4MILLION ecological site has been built on a former reservoir.

Environment Agency bosses have removed the dam at the former Jack's Key Reservoir in Darwen has been totally removed and a pond created to reduce the risk of flooding.

The site itself has also been landscaped, leaving a small wetland as well as a new river channel and scenic walkway.

The area around Jack's Key has been empty for some years, but the land itself now belongs to the Queen’s estate after the previous landowner went bankrupt 2005.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is to take ownership of the site once the work was completed.

The site was opened to the public last month, a year behind schedule.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We made very good progress on site last year, but following the onset of cold and wet weather in November 2016 we were unable to complete the scheme as originally anticipated.

“We did complete the footbridge and notch through the primary dam, and the earthworks to landscape the pond and the surrounding land.

“The pond was allowed to fill and water to flow through the newly constructed channel.

“A large number of trees have also been planted around the site.”

Cllr David Foster, who represents the area on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he was glad to hear the site is finally open to the public again.

He said: “This is good news, I know people have been waiting a long time for it to open.

“Now we can start to look at the ways we can uses the new site to bring people together.

“It will enhance the area and be a great resource for the local schools."

The department will be returning to the site to carry out repairs to a section of the footpath that was damaged last month during storm Brian.

Further works have been planned for next year in order to reduce flood risk to a number of properties down stream.