THE public enquiry area at Burnley police station is to be made more "visitor friendly" after a number of complaints.

Refurbishment work will start on November 12 and last for about a month.

During that time opening hours will be reduced to 8am to 8pm to allow builders to carry out the work.

The scheme will include new doors to allow better access for the disabled and people with prams; a separate area for people wanting to speak to a member of staff in confidence and provision for people to enter the building and use the police telephone outside of normal opening hours. The changes are being made in response to complaints after people visited the police station in Parker Lane.

Chief Supt John Knowles, commander of the Pennine division said: "Burnley police station was built in the 1950s and although we have made minor changes to the public enquiry area over the years surveys show that it is still not want people expect of a modern day police station."

People had told them the waiting area was not large enough, the doors were difficult to open for people in a wheelchair or with a pram and that it was almost impossible to talk to an enquiry assistant in confidence because everyone else could hear.