BEE hives will be placed at the back of a Blackburn library as council bosses approved a community apiary and learning centre.

As many as four hives will be installed at Cherry Tree Library in Cherry Tree Lane and council director of public health, Dominic Harrison, said he hoped it would build on the success of existing hive projects at Blackburn town hall and Davyfield.

The new hives, as with those already established, will be managed by the Rooftop Bees Club.

Mr Harrison said: "This will not only encourage the healthy growth of the local bee population in the Cherry Tree area but will also serve as a learning centre to upskill trainee bee keepers and members of the community who may wish to establish their own hives by taking bees from the established library apiary as the colonies grow.

"The apiary will also serve as an educational resource for locals schools from early years to secondary level and youth groups, strengthening scientific links to the national curriculum and promoting personal, social and health education through the care of insects.

"The project will also encourage access to nature and outdoor spaces and help to tackle social isolation in the wider community by providing free involvement with the project."

The community apiary will be enclosed with additional fencing with camouflage to ensure safety and to deter unwanted interference.

As the project develops, a viewing window will be installed in the rear wall of the library allowing visitors to have real time experience of hive activity.

Mr Harrison added: "The development and maintenance of the project will be funded by the Rooftop Bees Club via community donations, grant applications, sponsorship and money raising activities and in time with the sale of bee products.

"In the same way, responsibility for all building work, fencing, etc. and the ongoing maintenance of the apiary site will lie with The Rooftop Bees as agreed via a lease arrangement.

"Meetings have been held with the Cherry Tree Library Volunteers, who provide day to day service delivery in the library, and the group are in full support of the project.

"Informal consultation has also taken place with those residents in the immediate vicinity of the site and with the manager of the Acorns Nursery which is located alongside the library, all responses have been very positive and the nursery has expressed an interest in being involved in the project.

"Long term the project will contribute to the fight against colony collapse disorder with people taking even basic knowledge of bees and other pollinators and creating bee friendly environments for everyone to enjoy."

There has been an overall decline in wild and honey bees in recent years.

Bees and other pollinators are vital for food production and biodiversity and they face a range of pressures from habitat loss to pests and diseases.

Managed hives are helping to buck the trends and the number of registered bee colonies is steadily improving.