THE new statues in Church Street have undoubtedly added a touch of artistic panache to the town centre of Blackburn.

But the historical and architecturally delightful "Old Bank", now Lloyds TSB, adds an amazing backdrop to the whole project./11

You cannot but admire the unusual honeycomb design of the facing stones and the beautifully shaped stone and wrought iron entrance.

They were the work of local sculptor Thomas Allen who was born in Liverpool but settled in Blackburn in 1870.

Thomas was also the sculptor responsible for carvings in the chancel at St Alban's Church, the free library at the old YMCA and many church war memorials.

He also modelled the coat of arms on the Palace Theatre and designed and carved the Burnley police memorial.

However, he is best remembered for his statue Flora which was presented to the town by monumental mason Thomas Hartley Fairhurst in 1871.

The statue was driven by horse and cart from the Bastwell Monumental Works to Corporation Park and there she still stands 132 years later!

Vandals and the weather had taken their toll over the years but she was returned to her former glory a few years ago courtesy of some local stone masons. Sculptor Thomas Allen died aged 77 in Cedar Mount, Cedar Street, Blackburn, in 1922.