COUNCILLORS have moved to prevent one of Blackburn's main shopping streets from becoming a target for re-locating banks and building societies.

They have formally approved plans for the Halifax Building Society to move into the former Burton's menswear shop in King William Street but will actively discourage any further similar applications.

At a meeting earlier this year, they approved the plan in principle, overruling recommendations to refuse it after councillors argued the project would make two smaller units available and fill one larger one which had been empty for more than a year.

Sites in King William Street and Lord Square will be vacated when the new 'superbranch' is opened.

Council officials had argued the new unit was a prime space for a shop and should not be used for non-retail purposes.

But a council spokesman said: "Under the terms of the conditions agreed, only the Halifax can use it. If they chose to move on, it immediately goes back to being a retail unit.

"We need to keep as many shops as possible on this street."