WORK was due to begin today on the £100,000 face-lift of Colne bus station and is expected to take around eight to ten weeks.

It is hoped the improvement scheme, funded through the council's Single Regeneration Budget and the Colne Community Economic Development Fund, will take the bus station into the 21st Century.

The station will remain open throughout the alteration work, which will be carried out by contractor George Cox and Son, with a temporary line of bus stops being used so that work can begin.

Scott Whalley, development team leader at the council, said: "It is all linked in with the Quality Bus Initiative where we are raising the level of the kerbs to coincide with the lower buses to make it easier for people to get on and off the buses.

"It is also an environmental upgrade for the bus station. It is all part of the environmental work being carried out in Colne, which also involves the resurfacing of the car park behind the arcade and the resurfacing of Albert Road and Market Street.

"During the work there will be the same number of bus stops and services will be running as usual.

"We will just be creating a temporary kerb line within the bus station to free up the existing footpath so that the workers can continue with the job."

The improvements will include a gateway access off Parliament Street, resurfacing of the footpath and raising the kerbs, as well as a new clock for the new look bus station and improved lighting.