A £2MILLION five-year plan to restore Darwen's unique' Victorian heritage has been revealed.

Some £500,000 will be spent in the first phase on the market square area, where work started on Monday.

Money will then be pumped into restoring historic buildings and tidying up other areas.

Grants covering up to 90 per cent of the architectural restoration are available to owners of historic buildings including Belgrave Chapel, the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel - now A & M Bargains - and the Albert Buildings in Croft Street.

Other restoration work will be carried out to 26 buildings in Bridge Street, two buildings in Foundry Street, the frontage of 16 buildings in Bolton Road, 39 buildings in Railway Road, the Burtons and Woolworths buildings in Market Street and the tram shelters and Boer War memorial in Bolton Road.

Grants of up to 60 per cent are available for repairs to historic roofs, walls, windows, gutters, shopfronts and signs and up to 50 per cent for works to re-use empty work and living spaces over businesses.

Lynda Jubb, who took up her post as town centre heritage manager in September, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalise Darwen.

She said: "What you'll see is a restored Victorian town. This is a unique example of an intact Victorian market town. We have been so lucky these buildings have survived and are in use.

"We are privileged the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us the permission to use this opportunity."

The first phase in the market square will make the pedestrianised area all one level and in March new footpaths and paving will be installed. This will be followed by new iron railings, bus shelters, new street furniture and four oak trees along the bus route.

Work will be finished by May in time for the Darwen Live music event in the market square which will be a dedicated space to host a variety of events such as flea and continental markets.

Restoration of the buildings will follow although details of when work will start and what it will consist of can only be finalised after grant applications have been processed. All the funds will be allocated within three years on the understanding work will start within five.

The £2million grant has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative which supports towns that need an economic boost.

Marilyn Bysh, secretary of Darwen Civic Society, said: "It's grand. It will entice people to come into the town centre and really look at the buildings that are our heritage and we think it's excellent."