A BUSY platform with no roof is to finally be covered, ending years of misery for passengers.

A multi-million pound funding package has been put together to build a dome shelter over platform four of Blackburn station, used by Manchester and Blackpool passengers.

The platform is the busiest at the station, and is used used by 500,000 of the one million passengers passing through Blackburn each year.

But rail-users have been left shivering in the rain since a £6m upgrade of the Victorian station in 2001 left the platform exposed.

It was originally intended to use platforms one and two for most services, with platform four used for emergencies only.

But because the main westbound track - taking trains to Preston/Blackpool and Bolton/Manchester - runs alongside platform four, Railtrack decided to keep using the platform because it saved trains having to switch tracks as they approach the station.

Blackburn with Darwen Council officers have been lobbying rail bosses to either cover the platform or stop using it ever since.

But because there is some shelter already provided there is no legal duty to provide any more.

This week Blackburn with Darwen Ccouncil will give the green light to a £150,000 contribution towards the work, which is expected to cost £1.5m.

It is understood that Network Rail, which owns the station, has agreed a package to fund the remainder.

Peter Moore, chairman of Ribble Valley Rail, a voluntary group that campaigns to improve rail services in East Lancashire, said: "It's been grim on there, and when it's raining and blowy it's awful. Having said that, if people had thought just a little bit further forward when it was done up we would not be in this position.

"But it's very good news. I am highly delighted and looking forward to using it."

Brian Howarth uses platform four every morning on his way into work in Preston.

The 52-year-old, who lives in Langho, said: "I welcome any improvement to platform four. I use it daily and it's not the most comfortable place to wait on a cold wet morning."

Regular rail-user Mark Brindle, 34, of Sarah Street, Darwen, added: "I use this platform all the time and it should be covered over.

"It's not so bad when the sun's shining but it's terrible when it rains."

As part of the planned upgrade, which should be completed within a year, a dome-shaped shelter, similar to the one over platforms one, two and three, will be built over platform four. A lift to the platform would also be added because the current ramp is too steep to comply with disability laws.

Blackburn with Darwen Council chief executive Graham Burgess said the station improvements were "great news" for the borough.

He added: "This shows we are putting our money where our mouth is."