RESIDENTS are drawing up a petition to protest against Blackburn College plans to demolish a Victorian pub.

The old Courts Hotel in St Paul's Avenue, which dates from the 1880s, could disappear along with a construction building, a vehicle workshop and the Students' Union, which is currently housed in a portable cabin.

The plans have angered Blackburn resident Atham John Moran, who believes that the former pub is a piece of the town's history which should be retained.

But Blackburn College principal Sheena Ewing has stressed that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has been presented with two options. She said that two outline planning applications have been submitted, one of which included demolishing all of the buildings, but the other retained the former Courts Hotel.

Members of the council's planning committee must decide which one is given the go-ahead.

Mrs Ewing said: "Ideally we'd like to keep the Courts building because its a nice building, but it's in the hands of the planning authority.

"Our preferred option is to build on two sites to extend our construction, hairdressing and beauty therapy and sixth form centres, which would mean keeping the Courts building.

"We are currently bidding for external funding for the work."

Mr Moran, of Cherry Tree Guest House, Islington, has already gathered more than 30 signatures for a petition which he intends to present to the council. He said: "I am worried that this pub is going to disappear.

"It is a nice old building in a part of town which I think is in danger of losing its character."