PICK-AXE raiders attacked a 23-year-old man as he intervened in a violent robbery at Lower Darwen post office. He suffered a broken pelvis in the incident but was later released from Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Plans for a massive £11million re-vamp of Blackburn shopping centre were unveiled by new owners Standard Life.

They included escalators in Cobden Court, a glass domed roof in Victoria Court and new shops in King William Street.