A memorial ground has been given a new lease of life after a community project.

Waterfoot Forward, Rossendale Borough Council, and Proffitts – Investing in Communities joined forces to improve Tricketts Memorial Ground in Waterfoot.

The project, which began in June after a lengthy public consultation and fundraising period, is now complete.

The upgrades include improved path surfaces, tree works, additional planting, and more bins.

The entrance pillars and archway have been cleaned and restored, and the steps to the commemorative stone have been made safer.

New interpretation panels have also been installed, providing more information about the grounds.

Tim Nuttall, from Waterfoot Forward, said: "Trickett’s Memorial Ground was bought in 1922, and then given to the Borough of Rawtenstall, by the workers of local footwear factory Gaghills Mill to commemorate 44 of their colleagues who gave their lives in World War One.

"In recent years some damage has been caused to the entrance gateway and we wanted to restore and repair this.

"We’re thrilled that the improvements at Tricketts have now been finished.

"We started this project in 2012 and it wasn’t until we engaged Proffitts CIC that we found funding to carry out the work."

Councillor Julie Adshead, from Rossendale Borough Council, said: "Tricketts Memorial Ground has been a key part of Waterfoot heritage for over a century, and we’re certain that it will now be a popular and welcoming space for visitors for another hundred years.

"The health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors in green spaces are well documented, and we hope that the residents close by enjoy spending more time here."

Waterfoot Forward has also created a new website to tell the story of the Memorial Ground and the biographies of the 44 men who died in WWI who are commemorated there.

The grounds are now fully open to the public.