BLUNDERING work-men had to dig up a prestige paving project in order to re-fit a drain after it was discovered it was too small.

More than £100,000 has been spent transforming Sudell Cross, Blackburn, into a pedestrian-friendly plaza.

But a week after workmen had finished laying the Chinese paving flags outside the Grapes pub and Shop at Panasonic, they returned to pull them up again.

Contractors at the site admitted it was simple mis-reading of the size of the gully which would be needed to drain water.

Town centre bosses said that despite the delay the project was still on schedule and would be completed next week under budget.

It was also revealed fittings were being installed so the area can have a Christmas tree with lights during the festive season.

Steve Abbott, site manager for George Cox and Sons, said: "It's just a fault on my part in reading the specification."

He said the wrong size gully had been originally fitted and a bigger one was needed to meet water capacities.

"It's all done now, just a bit of piecing in is left to do," he added.

He said the flags would be relaid within two to three days but he did not know how much the mistake would cost -although it would be met by the contractors, and not the public purse.

The improvement scheme attracted controversy when the Lancashire Telegraph revealed £75,000 was to be spent installing a 32ft light sculpture, likened to a Star Wars light sabre. The Braid, as the artwork is called, will be installed early next year.

It also caused criticism when we revealed that flags for the paving were from China.

Matt Barker, sales adviser at Shop at Panasonic, said: "It's a shame that they thought they had finished and now they seem to be messing about with it."

Roshan Salleh, manager of the Ginger Muffin cafe, said: "We want it done quickly so that we can get back to normal as soon as possible."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "Schemes of this nature always find variations and that is all this was.

"While carrying out the work we found that one of the drains on the plan was in fact obsolete and as such changes were made to reflect this.

"At the request of the Sudell Cross traders we have also asked the contractor to put in place the necessary power points for a Christmas tree in the area, which again is an addition to the original plans."