ONE of the area's biggest regeneration schemes has started at Atherton where VIPs and government officials will join developers and take a 4 x 4 tour of the 300 acre Gibfield Park site.

Gibfield Park has been derelict and -- says Wigan Council -- dangerous for years since Bag Lane opencast coal site and Gadbury brickworks were operational.

Work has now been started to develop the site with a business park, houses with a district centre, alongside a country park environment covering hundreds of acres

The authority believes Gibfield Business Park's attractive setting will ensure a "high quality working and living environment" which will attract new and expanding firms to the area.