ARTIST Peter Hollingsworth is recording the beauty spots of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley before they vanish under a sea of bricks.

A skilful watercolourist, retired art teacher Peter is exhibiting his work all this month at Leigh's Turnpike Centre.

Entitled "Rural Islands" it features 30 works depicting local landscapes under threat.

Peter, who lives in Atherton, said: "Within the boundaries of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley are a number of rural islands, areas of countryside holding out against the tide of modern development.

"Some are large and extensively farmed, others are small and uncultivated places that lie in the shadow of towns.

"These open spaces give shelter to wildlife and pleasure to people who walk their way. Long may they survive."

At first glance Peter's paintings display a rural environment, but looking deeper viewers realise that these islands exist precariously as spaces which could be lost.

The landscape may sometimes appear timeless, but Peter's work, which is on sale, reflects some urgent and topical issues.

He said: "Only recently I was at Pennington painting the local beauty spot "Taylor's Hole", and there were signs that the developers are coming.

"I recorded the area in paint before it vanishes under a sea of houses."

The exhibition runs until November 30 and is open during library hours.