A BLACKBURN businessman is looking to spread some goodwill this festive period by cleaning up dirty road signs across the borough.

Paul Schofield was driving past the traffic signs on Stopes Brow in the town which were covered in algae and he found them impossible to read clearly.

He took down his cleaning equipment and blasted the algae off and then the owner of Hoze-It Ltd posted on social media for the public’s help to find out other locations that needed cleaning.

The dad-of-two said: “I just looked a bit of a mess so I got my equipment out and cleaned it.

“It is a public safety issue as you cannot see where you are going.

“Lots of people have been saying that I should do other areas.

“The reaction from the Keep Blackburn Tidy group was amazing and they do such a great job in the area.

“We have had lots of different people messaging me and I have put together a list and I want to clean a sign every day up until Christmas.

“Blackburn is my home town and I have a Blackburn Rovers season ticket and want the area to look good.

“I know that the council cannot afford to do it because of all the health and roads and bins and other things they do.

“It is nice to give something back to the community.”

The 47-year-old has also been out and about helping good causes.

He said: “I have done some work up at East Lancashire Hospice.

“My wife’s father died there so I said I would go to clean their paths and stone. It's an amazing place.”

Paul has overcome some personal drama with his business earlier this year.

He said: “I had parked my car at Tesco’s on Hill Street and went into the store and then came out and found my equipment had been stolen.

“One of the security guards told me that he had watched four people who were in the car park and they were waiting for the right time and somebody to turn up.

“I had duly obliged and they must have cloned my key and stole some of my equipment.

“But I have managed to get up and running and I just want to give something back to the community.”

Paul has also cleaned up signs on England Avenue and also one at the bottom of Montague Street.