BUS users are being warned of disruption as a major shopping centre revamp gets under way.

The £60million expansion and re-development of Blackburn town centre is due to start in October after being delayed for a year.

Now, to allow preparatory works, some bus stops are to be moved from Ainsworth Street.

Ahead of the demolition of Lord Square, trenches are to be dug for utilities and ground testing.

And from Monday the northbound lane of Ainsworth Street, the side next to the Mall and the Post Office, will be closed.

More closures will be announced as the project progresses.

The revamp is due to be completed by Christmas 2009.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration at the council, said: "It's the early stages of a major development and we will be taking what ever steps possible to minimise the disruption."

He said the short-term disruption would be worth the long-term gain of a newly refurbished and larger shopping centre.

So far the only publicly known space to have been taken up is that by Blackburn with Darwen Council, which has agreed a 35-year lease on the 70,000sq ft ground floor for a new market.

Most of Lord Square has been vacated and TJ Hughes is due to quit its site in September.

Clothing giants H&M and Primark are understood to be in discussions with the Mall about moving into the shopping centre extension.

From Monday stands A7 and A7a in Ainsworth Street will move.

Service 10 and 11 (Wensley Fold and Witton) will operate from stand P on the Boulevard, service 12 (Revidge and Lammack) will pick up in Exchange Street, next to the town hall, and service 13 (Mellor) will operate from stand B on Railway Road.

The taxis which currently rank in Penny Street will relocate to Stands A7 & A7a in Ainsworth Street.