Darwen family terrified as house could collapse

Sections of Olive Lane and Anyon Street have been fenced off and temporary traffic lights put in place to protect passers-by after part of the wall of the end-terrace was found to be rotten.

The couple inside said they were 'absolutely terrified' and are sleeping on the couch because it is too dangerous to go upstairs in the house they have owned for 27 years.

And locals have blamed the heavy traffic in the area, which is often used by lorries as a shortcut from the motorway, for wearing down the foundations of the terrace.

Yesterday emergency scaffolding surrounded the house, which used to be a shop, with a pile of rubble on the pavement.

Clive Beech, 59, who lives in the house with his 67-year-old wife Gene, said rendering work had unearthed rotten wooden lintels in the window.

Mr Beech, a carer for his disabled wife, said they had paid thousands to have the outside wall re-rendered three times since moving in but had not realised part of the structure was rotten.

It is thought the wooden lintels date back to when the building was previously used as a shop.

He said: “There were small cracks before, and we put it down to the wagons.

"We got it all re-rendered three years ago, paid £4,500 and now the whole of the front of the house needs to be knocked down.”

Mrs Beech, who has Parkinson’s Disease, added: “I have not slept for two nights.

"We keep waiting for a crash.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the gable side of the property was collapsing, and three-way temporary traffic lights had been put in place Stephen Scott, who owns Scotty’s Snack Bar opposite the house on Olive Lane, phoned the police when he saw the crack open up on Monday afternoon.

He said: “I wanted it recording that if it fell it would seriously injure someone.”

Mr Scott said the traffic using the road had already made it an accident black-spot.

Sudell councillor Roy Davies added: “It’s causing quite a bit of disruption because it’s a very busy road.”