THE pedestrianisation of Darwen town centre is spectacularly wrong', according to a local charity for the disabled.

Cobbles, which are raised about three quarters of an inch above the concrete base, have been laid from Croft Street to Market Street in the town centre.

Work was done on the road earlier this year as part of the £1.4m roadworks scheme to regenerate Darwen by improving traffic flow around the town.

But the Blackburn And Darwen Disabled Access Group said that the cobbles made it difficult for people with disabilities to access the town centre.

A man from Birch Hall Avenue, who does not want to be named, said that he helped a man whose wheelchair had tipped over when one of its wheels got stuck between two cobbles.

He said: "I had to help the man, who was quite elderly, up and back into his chair.

"It's disgusting that these people are struggling to access their own town centre.

"They say that Darwen was built up around a Roman Road, but they don't need to make the main road through the shops resemble one."

Bob Simpson, chairman of the Blackburn And Darwen Disabled Access Group, (BADDAG), said: "Town planners tend to use a traditional style of surface for these projects, which in theory are acceptable for disabled people, but in reality they are not in any way, shape or form.

"You've got to think about people who have spondulosis, muscular problems, and people who have had operations.

"A lot of people won't have the upper-body strength to easily get over the cobbles.

"Blackburn with Darwen Council have worked hard to make it right.

"Sometimes they don't get it right and sometimes they get it spectacularly wrong. These cobbles are spectacularly wrong."

Ruth Carter, secretary of BADDAG, added: "If I ever had to push anyone around in Darwen I would avoid it.

"There are cobbles in Blackburn but they are fairly flat in comparison.

"For an elderly or infirm person, they are a death trap."

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The pedestrianised area of Darwen town centre was designed with accessibility in mind, following a consultation with disabled user groups.

"Provision for wheelchair users crossing the road has been made at the bus station.

"The cobbles are in a conservation area and the cobble stones we used has meant the heritage of the paving has been maintained."