OXFORD has its spires, Chester has its Roman ruins, York has its Minster and what does Blackburn get? Grey sheds.

They are everywhere, travelling into Blackburn from east or west down the motorway, glace over towards the town and there they are - corrugated steel, grey building looking like Nissen huts.

In places it looks like some Army, or Airforce, even POW camp.

It's Blackburn's answer to all matters - rip out the old and stick up a shed which has the architectural delights of being grey.

No inspiration to people, no pleasing decor, no colour variation -- just grey sheds.

So pleased is Blackburn Council with these that they are now allowing them in towards the town centre.

There placed on a mound so all can see are the new grey sheds - temples to rampant consumerism.

So proud of Nova Scotia are they that timbers from the neighbouring area have been piled one on top the other.

It's a variety called scrap-wood pallets.

So proud are they that the entrance is designed so that it can repel boarders being narrow and carved into the side of the mound.

In "with Darwen" they are still planning on knocking down houses to build their academy, which no Darrener I have spoken to agrees with. But there are concerns it will be the start of the grey shed invasion of our bit.

Surely there must be someone on the planning committee who will stand against the march of the grey sheds.

GRAHAM A CARTER, Darwen Green Party, Kingsway, Lower Darwen.