A CYCLE lane that has been painted on a busy Accrington road has been branded ‘dangerous’ and ‘ridiculous.’

Lancashire County Council workmen have painted the lane in Blackburn Road between Scaitcliffe Street and Brunswick Walk.

Residents have said the cycle lane, which is almost as wide as a bus lane and is less than 50 metres long, as a ‘nonsense’ and a ‘waste of time and paint’.

But council bosses say they have just repainted the lane after Blackburn Road was resurfaced a couple of months ago.

Leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe said: “I don’t know who or when they have put it there but it just seems a nonsense.

“You rarely see cycles on Blackburn Road. Perhaps they should modify it.

“We are all in favour of cyclists and cycle lanes and have them throughout the borough but this just seems like nonsense. ”

Sharon Elliot, of Blackburn Road, Acc-rington, said: “It is dangerous. You would have to drive in the middle of the road to avoid the cycle lane but them you would hit the bollards on the junction in the middle.”

Another resident, of Blackburn Road, who asked to remain anony-mous, said: “It’s not common sense, it is a waste of time and paint. You rarely see cyclists going up Blackburn Road anyway.”

Another resident said: “It is ridiculous. Cars have no choice but to drive over the cycle lane it has been painted half way into the road. ”

David Law, the county’s principal engineer for traffic said: “Resurfacing work was recently carried out on Blackburn Road.

“Once this work was completed, the markings for the cycle lane were repainted as part our routine maintenance of the highway network.

"This means that the markings are clearer and for road users to see.

“We are aware some questions have been raised regarding the layout of these markings.

!While we believe everything to be in order, we will investigate.”