THE Bacup Wall of History was brought back to life on Saturday after being one of the first projects to benefit from a £2million scheme aimed at regenerating derelict parts of East Lancashire.

The North West Development Agency has provided £2.15million towards the Small Sites Reclamation programme for the county.

The scheme is to allow regeneration of more than 100 hectares of derelict land in a bid to improve the environmental image of some parts of the region.

The Bacup Consortium, along with Groundwork Rossendale, were the first beneficiaries of the cash fund, for work on the Wall of History.

The wall, in Yorkshire Street off Todmorden Road, is made up of more than 30 date stones and other features from historical buildings that have been demolished.

However, it is almost 20 years old and had been allowed to deteriorate. The money, around £30,000, was used to tidy the area around the wall, provide a bench, new lighting and make it more accessible.

Brass plaques that have been designed by local people and children from Saint Mary's RC Primary School and Thorn County Primary School have been inserted into the paving around the wall, and an information board explaining the site has been designed.

All the sites which are to benefit from the scheme will be put to use for a wide variety of projects including recreational schemes, wildlife and conservation areas and educational initiatives.

The resources will be channelled to local groups in a bid to ensure the cash is spent where needed.