BLACKBURN Transport goes into private hands today after 125 years of council ownership.

Union bosses described the sale of the business to Yorkshire-based Blazefield Holdings Group as a "sad day" for the town.

Blackburn with Darwen council chiefs said they had made the decision to sell the company because it was making a loss and the takeover would help secure its future.

They have stressed that key bus routes would be protected under the agreement.

No assurances have been given on fares but the council said that Blazefield's track record in Burnley and Pendle, where it owns Lancashire United, showed that ticket prices had been lower than in Blackburn.

And as part of the deal, 25 new low-floor buses will take to the streets in the spring.

But Jim Casey, union representative for the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "The 125 years of Blackburn Transport is going out with a whimper - it's a sad day for Blackburn.

"I suspect there will not be much change straight away.

"The council says it is about providing a better long-term future for Blackburn Transport.

"But when you look at what happened with things like the Redearth Road homes in Darwen and the Darwen leisure centre, how much confidence does that instill about the decisions they make?

"However, we have got a new operator and have got to look to the future.

"We can't look back."

The council made the decision to sell following the recommend-ations of an all-party advisory panel.

In a joint statement, the three party leaders - Kate Hollern, Colin Rigby and David Foster - welcomed the sale.

The statement said: "This agreement is good news for the borough. It will secure the future of the transport company and local jobs and bring much-needed investment into public transport, which will be welcomed by users.

"It is important that, as the borough grows and continues to thrive, it is served by a first class public transport sector.

"We are confident that Blazefield will play a major part in helping to make that happen."

Blazefield's managing director Stuart Wilde said: "We are delighted to have negotiated this deal with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

"As part of this agreement, 25 new vehicles at a cost £3.8 million have been ordered, which we hope to introduce into the fleet during April of this year.

"Hopefully this demonstrates our commitment to invest in the long-term future of the Blackburn Transport business."

The company will continue to operate from depots in Intack and from Ainsworth Street.