A CASH boost of £20,000 has signalled the continued success of a top Bury attraction.

Popular East Lancashire Railway (ELR), which runs steam and diesel trains on the restored line between Heywood and Rawtenstall, has been awarded the grant by Pilsworth Environment Company (PEC).

The money is being spent on maintenance and restoration of the 1950s lever-style signals and will ensure the smooth running of the classic locomotives which carry between 100,000 and 120,000 visitors a year. Work on the signal box at Bury is almost complete.

Graham Vevers, who has been a volunteer at ELR since it was set up in 1968, said: "It's not a case of buying new signals when they break. This is vintage equipment, needing skilled attention and vintage parts.

"PEC's continuing support is important to the development of this tourism attraction, which we understand has increased visitor numbers and inspired conservation all along the line, such as the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail."

PEC director John Barnes has been enthusiastic about the ELR project from the start.

"We are very pleased to continue to offer our support for this project which we hope will continue to benefit local tourism and regeneration of industrial areas," he commented.

PEC gives grants to eligible projects within a 10-mile radius of its Bury base, on behalf of local landfill operators Viridor Waste Management, using funds from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.