SERVICES provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council suspended during the coronavirus lockdown are starting to reopen this week.

New systems will be in place to ensure social distancing.

Blackburn Library reopened today with its Darwen counterpart following suit on Monday next week.

The front desk at Blackburn Town Hall will open on a restricted basis next week as will Darwen Town Hall and 10 Duke Street.

Blackburn Museum will open from July 15 with the usual hours of Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 4.45pm.

Registrar services, including birth registrations and weddings, are due to return by the end of the month.

Weddings in the Northgate Suite of King George’s Hall could also resume at the end of July.

Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre and Darwen Leisure Centre will remain closed pending further guidance.

Witton Park Arena will be focused on targeted health session delivery rather than use by the general public.

King George’s Hall and Darwen Library Theatre will remain closed.

Council chief executive Denise Park said: “Staff and customers must be incredibly careful as we get used to very new ways of doing things.”