DISGRUNTLED residents left a council meeting grumbling after finance chiefs blocked a move to provide a neat pavement outside their homes.

Householders in Brentwood Avenue, Burnley, petitioned against the county council replacing broken paving stones with black tarmacadam. They said it would be unsightly and lower the value of their homes.

Burnley's planning committee had recommended finance chiefs to come up with the £3,575 extra for flags rather than the black stuff.

But the resources committee last night deferred a decision after hearing it could set a precedent which may cost the town up to £3.5million if every street made the same request.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said a final decision should wait a full report from officers which would have to show the 300 metre stretch on Brentwood was a special case."If we do this without a full report new applications will come flooding in," he said.

"It is not reasonable or sensible to talk about doing something which could cost £3.5million for the whole borough."

Independent Harry Brooks disagreed with the Labour leader, pointing out the planning committee was unanimously in favour of finding the cash. "The failure of the report before us to convey the true position is not the fault of the residents, it is the fault of the officer who wrote it."

LibDem Charlie Bullas described the state of the avenue as a patchwork quilt. "It looks a mess," he said.

Members backed Coun Caddy, and residents will have to await a final decision.