THE green light has been given for a Darwen pedal-car grand prix.

Coun Phil Jones, who is behind the scheme, has spent weeks thrashing out legal and technical issues with Capita, the council contractors.

Now they have been resolved, it has been agreed the race can take place on Sunday, July 11 next year.

Coun Jones said: “Last week I had confirmation from Capita that we could have the race track with barriers of hay or tyres placed around it.

“I first thought of the idea to hold an event after seeing the Great Harwood pram race. It is wonderful and has attracted a lot of visitors.

“I thought Darwen should have something similar and when I heard about pedal car races that have taken place down south, I thought that’s exactly what we need.

“We wanted to do something that is fun, that everyone can join in and is based around health and fitness and recycling.”

Teams will make their own cars from recycled material. Vehicles must be four-wheeled single seaters, no wider than 1.25m and longer than 2m. The winner will be the team that completes the most number of laps in the allocated time.

The course starts and finishes outside the NatWest Bank in Market Street and goes past the bus station, the market and along Duckworth Street.

Coun Jones added: “I think the event will be really good for community cohesion and hopefully will turn into a big event for Darwen. The races down south attract around 15,000 spectators. If we had that response I would be estatic.

“The day will start around 12.30pm with cars gathering from noon. There will be food and beer tents and possibly other atrractions.

“We are looking for as many teams as possible to enter. Depending on the amount of people who are interested, we may split the event into groups of seniors and juniors, and women.”

All interested parties who would like to form a team and build a car are requested to contact councillor Phil Jones via email to phil.jones@blackburn.gov.uk.