A ROW has erupted over the shabby state of three important monuments celebrating a town's industrial past.

Blackburn Council is under fire for allowing the steam engine, paper-coating machine and water pump in Darwen to rust and deteriorate into eyesores.

Barry Wainwright, of Cherryclough Way, Blackburn, was so incensed when he noticed their dilapidated condition, he contacted the Lancashire Evening Telegraph by e-mail.

He complained: "I work at India Mill in Darwen and walk past two of them every day.

"Blackburn town centre has been revitalised and I want to know if this expenditure has left no money for a lick of paint for these memorials to our industrial heritage.

"Or is it yet another case of Darwen being the poor neighbour to Blackburn?

"It is a crying shame they have been left to rot in this way."

His calls for action have been echoed by Darwen Civic Society.

Secretary Jack Fisher said: "They are in a disgusting state and we have been urging the council to do something about them for a long time.

"We know the repairs have been costed but no indication of when work will start has been given.

"The monuments at Earcroft and on Bolton Road were donated to the borough and are an attraction for people driving through the town as well as providing a reminder to townsfolk of their heritage.

"They have been neglected for so long that quite a lot of repairs are needed to return them to their former glory."

A spokesman for Blackburn Council denied the monuments were being overlooked.

He said: "We are looking to have them repainted and hope this work, which is likely to run into the thousands, will be completed in the near future."

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