THE car is set to lose its crown as king of the road in one Blackburn district, when work begins on East Lancashire's first Home Zone.

New playgrounds will be created in some streets, while roads will be narrowed and pavements made wider so drivers are forced to slow down

Part of Audley has been selected for the first Home Zone and work will begin there in February or March, covering an area between Audley Range and both Higher Audley Street and Copy Nook.

Home Zone schemes were pioneered in Europe, before proving a success in Oxford. They give the public the chance to say what improvements should be implemented to make the roads safer for people who don't have cars.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is among the first boroughs in the country to try the scheme following its success in Oxford.

Similar schemes have been running in the Netherlands for years. Residents there say using the same colour surfaces for pavements and roads makes the driver conscious of the fact there are pedestrians around.

While pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained on all roads, cars will be banned from some. New, secure car parks will be created.

As well as making roads on the estate safer, Home Zones are designed to foster community spirit by encouraging people to spend time outside their homes and children feeling safe to play in the streets.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "Work will begin on Audley Home Zone in February or March of next year.

"The aim of the Home Zone is to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment which links the area together in terms of pedestrian and cycling routes but accommodates car access and car parking. New play areas and traffic calming will also be provided

"This area was selected, after extensive consultation with the community, as high levels of through traffic detrimentally affect the way that the area is used in terms of play, walking and cycling and the scheme came forward first to fit in with the orbital route improvements.

"This is the first of a number of Home Zones we plan to implement, with others identified in Darwen, Bank Top, Infirmary and Audley, to the south of Audley Range, in our current Local Transport Plan programme, if consultation with the communities confirms the need."

The overall cost of the project is £500,000. Half has been funded by the Government through Single Regeneration Budget cash, while Blackburn's Local Transport Plan -- another source of government cash -- has funded £100,000.

Another £150,000 has come from the Government's Public Service Agreement deal with the council.