NEW life will be breathed into Bury's biggest park when major improvements swing into action.

Clarence Park will be the biggest winner in a £3 million project to revamp public gardens across the borough.

Plans include new facilities for youngsters and the long-awaited completion of the bandstand.

An £800,000 chunk will go to the park off Walmersley Road. New facilities will include a play area, youth zone and ball zone, with a skate park on the former tennis courts. New courts will be built closer to the bowling greens.

Pathways will be resurfaced, with cash also set aside for the revamp of benches, bins, railings and flower beds.

Residents who raised thousands to see the bandstand brought back to its former glory will finally see the work completed.

Repairs were made to the base of the structure several years ago, but the effort was left waiting for Bury Council cash for a new roof. The parks department will now add to the £4,300 already raised, so that the work can be completed.

Plans also include the appointment of a park ranger, and the improvement of water quality at Clarence Lido.

The former leisure pool has been plagued with a blue green algae problem in recent summers, and council staff will work with the Environment Agency to improve the situation.

The funding comes from the Office of The Deputy Prime Minister after a successful bid from Bury Council. One aim is to bring parks across the borough up to the the Civic Trust's Green Flag standard for parks.

Improvements are expected to be completed within the next two years.

Head of parks and countryside Neil Long said: "What we are looking at is having a park that is more attractive, safe and welcoming."

Park campaigner Marisa Dale, who led the bandstand cash drive in the 1990s, said: "This is a wonderful and it is certainly about time. It is exactly what we need."