DARWENERS were rejoicing today as their most cherished landmark reopened after being off-limits for 19 months.

Darwen Tower is now safe for the public to walk around again after a six-week £26,000 engineering project.

The worn stone slabs have been replaced, the inner wall has been strengthened, the lantern on the top glazed and benches put around the bottom.

Coun Dave Smith, of the Sunnyhurst ward, whose great-grandfather actually helped to build the tower, said: "This is good news for the town. We are relieved, especially with the better spring and summer weather now upon us.

"This was essential work that needed to be done and engineers tell us the tower will now be secure for another 100 years."

Since inspectors found the tower to be unsafe in October 2000, a number of delays prevented its re-opening -- and left many Darweners frustrated.

In early 2001, a second survey identified several structural defects. The worst decay was in the stone decking.

Engineers then carried out another survey and produced a set of plans.

Once this was done the builders were carefully selected.

The project was expected to begin in spring 2001, but the surrounding moorland was closed off due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Then, once the area was given the all clear, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council officers said the weather was too bad for work to start.

Many Darweners were unhappy and complained through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that the tower was becoming an overgrown eyesore instead of a focal point.

But council officers have always stressed there was no negligence from them and that they were the victims of uncontrollable delays.

And they said the project would always take a little longer as the tower is a listed building.