COUNCIL bosses have pledged to re-use cobbles dug up from Darwen bus station amid fears that part of the town's history was being lost.

The vow from Blackburn with Darwen Council comes after Darwen Civic Society demanded that the old cobblestones be saved.

The society wrote to the council, saying that the 60-year-old blue granite stones are part of Darwen's heritage and should be included in the regeneration of the town centre.

New councillor Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at the council, has pledged that will happen.

He said: "We will be lifting, cleaning and relaying the existing cobbles as part of the regeneration work in Darwen town centre and will be expanding the cobbled area further with new cobbles that will match."

Society members had feared for the future of the cobbles because old pink granite kerbstones were removed from Duckworth Street a few years ago and not re-used.

They do not want the cobblestones to disappear and be replaced with modern stones that will "not be in keeping" with the rest of the town.

Secretary Marilyn Bysh said: "This sort of thing is very important to the people of Darwen. We don't want to go modern. We want to keep our heritage."

Work began last month to transform the bus station into a "bustling market square" as part of the wider £4million regeneration of the town centre. The scheme, devised by Blackburn with Darwen Council planners and members of the community on Darwen Partnership Board, includes the revamp of the bus station and market area.

Plans include the creation of a public square with work expected to include resurfacing the bus station and pedestrian areas in front of the market hall and three-day market, as well as improved drainage, lighting and artwork.

The new square will be repaved and pedestrianised and will feature benches and trees, with open space for special events. The redevelopment will also include the creation of a more compact, linear bus station alongside the public square.

Planning chiefs are hoping work, funded by Government cash and heritage grants, will be completed by the end of next year.