A NEW beehive sculpture has been unveiled on a roundabout in Blackburn based on the "busy bee" image in the town's crest

But angry residents in Guide say they have been "stung" by Blackburn with Darwen Council who they say never consulted them about the building of the structure.

Campaigners in the village, who are opposing the building of a new retail park off Haslingden Road, say the sculpture on the Haslingden Road roundabout near their homes is a "monstrosity."

Spokesman Pat Kennedy said: "We are beginning to seriously think in Guide that the council has got something against us.

"We've told them time and time again that we don't want the countless developments that are springing up all over the place and they take no notice. "Now we get this monstrosity on our doorsteps having never being told it was on its way. "Every time we have asked for some kind of traffic-calming in Guide they say they can't afford the money to do it.

"Then we find they have got enough money to build this thing.

"There needs to be some serious thinking put in at the town hall as to just what their priorities are.

"They told us they did not need planning permission for such a structure, which I suppose is why there has been no formal consultation."

The burnished steel beehive is based on the bees which appear in the Blackburn with Darwen borough crest and was created by artist Malcolm Robertson with the help of pupils at Queen's Park High School.

Cash from the council's single regeneration budget and the European Regional Development fund paid for the sculpture.

Coun Andy Kay, chairman of the council's regeneration committee said: "This sculpture is part of our ongoing commitment to make public art available to as many people as possible."

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