WORK has begun on long-awaited improvements to create The People's Place on the Hag Fold Estate at Atherton.

Devonshire Road Park is being cleared to accommodate a brand new state of the art play area with equipment and play areas for all ages.

A kick about area, swings for younger children and under fives and areas where the less active can just

sit and admire the flowers and trees are being installed.

The Project being funded under Atherton Building Communities (ABC) -- to the tune of nearly £250,000 -- has come directly out of consultation with local people by the Atherton Community Mapping Team.

Residents were encouraged to have their say and outline what they wanted to see in the area.

A joint statement by Councillors Mark Aldred, Reg Holmes and Sue Loudon, all members of the ABC Board, said: "Hag Fold Estate has long needed a good quality play area. We are looking forward to the day when we can re-open the Park with its new look and its new name.

"This project will the be start of a great many improvements to play provision across all Atherton."