Accrington’s new £6.4 million bus station has been delayed by another SIX weeks.

Lancashire County Council said the station on Crankshaw Street was originally due to be open on May 6 with the date then pushed back to May 29.

However council bosses have now confirmed the station won’t be up and running until July 10.

Officers have blamed the delays on ‘relentless bad weather’ at the start of the year.

The county council formally took possession of the building from contractors Keepmoat Regeneration last week, however some final work is still needed to install various fixtures and fittings.

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The main building work has been done, but we’ve still got plenty to do to make the new Accrington bus station ready for passengers.

“The electronic screens can only be put in once the heavy construction has been completed to avoid risk of damaging them.

“There will be three large information screens above each of the main entrances showing times of the buses and trains to help people make their connections, with smaller ones above each bay.

“We’ve just finished recruiting the station staff and now we need to train them to use the systems and make sure they know everything they need to help and provide advice to passengers.

“July is a bit later than we had originally hoped to have the station open, but this delay of a few weeks is not the worst of the problems we have faced due to the severe weather at the start of the year.”

County hall bosses said the bus station will become a ‘hive of activity’ over the coming weeks as the electronic information boards and ticket machines are installed and staff training takes place.

Other work to be completed includes the installation of a system to help people with visual impairments navigate the station, and easily call for assistance if they need it.

A special ‘Changing Places’ facility will also be installed to make life easier for people who struggle to use standard accessible toilets.

A public open day is currently being planned to give people a chance to look around before the station becomes operational and more details will be announced in the coming weeks.