THE opening of Carl Fogarty Way in Blackburn means six new development sites will be open for offers.

Blackburn with Darwen Council growth and development boss, Cllr Phil Riley, told members at a council forum meeting that the local authority was preparing to market the council-owned sites, off the new road, in a bid to attract developers.

Last month, Blackburn’s motorcycle racing legend and 2014 I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! champion broke the celebration tape on the new 600-metre highway with the front of his CCM ‘Foggy Edition’ Spitfire high in the air.

The new highway ­— from the Red Lion roundabout near M65 junction six to Bottomgate ­— is the last section of the £4.8million Furthergate Link Road.

Cllr Riley said: “Opening the road has opened up six development sites which were inaccessible.

"We are very keen to see things on there that show Blackburn with Darwen at its best and we want to see good interest coming in from businesses.

“We would be delighted if they are local ones.

“We want people to see Blackburn with Darwen as a place where things get done and there is high-end manufacturing.”

The four-time World Superbike champion, 54, is one of just a handful of celebrities to have a road named after them including former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle, Blackburn Rover’s Premiership-winning striker Alan Shearer, the club’s benefactor Jack Walker and walking guru Alfred Wainwright.

The road, complete with the short missing section near Tesco’s Hill Street store, links the M65 Whitebirk Junction Six, with the town centre by-passing Burnley Road.

It is the final piece of the £40m Pennine Reach scheme to speed buses and other traffic between Hyndburn, Blackburn and Darwen.