FIRST steps in a consultation exercise to give locals a say in how a multi-million pound forest project is developed have proved successful.

They met woodland reserve promoters at Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare Club to walk the 323-acre site bordered by Leigh, Tyldesley and Astley, which is being transformed in to a major slice of the regional Red Rose Forest.

Nature lover and Bedford/Astley councillor John Lea, who instigated the transformation of the giant land reclamation site, was one of the trekkers who toured the site on Saturday with his terrier, Judy. He was accompanied by a group of enthusiastic locals and environmental experts from the Forestry Commission and the Red Rose Forest.

"It's a multi-million pound scheme and the aim is to get the work done over a short time scale," said Coun Lea afterwards.

"The scheme will involve planting hundreds of thousands of mixed deciduous and evergreen species.

"We want to know what people would like in their community forest and there is the possibility of several water features on site which would benefit the community and wildlife."

The first stage of the consultations continue on Monday between 6pm and 9pm at Higher Fold Community Centre, Stirling Close, Leigh when locals are invited to put forward their ideas.