A STAGGERING £737,000 is on its way to Bury, bringing a massive boost for environmental projects and regeneration schemes across the borough.

The huge grant funding is to come via the North West Development Agency and means projects, designed to improve access, appearance and development opportunities, can now take place.

The cash funding will allow the following schemes to go ahead:

Riverside treatment to the former "One Stop" site in Radcliffe.

Capping of mineshafts within public open space and woodland at Outwood's Millennium Wood.

Upgrading of the Radcliffe-Elton section of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal towpath. It will form an improved footpath and cycle way which will complete a further section of the National Cycle Route and the Irwell Sculpture Trail.

Improvements and surfacing of the car park at Rainsough Brow which serves the Prestwich Forest Park and Drinkwater Park.

Boundary treatment at the Hurst Street Industrial Units in Pimhole, Bury.

Landscaping at Rectory Lane, Prestwich.

Access improvements to School Street and Hollybank Street, Radcliffe.

Further environmental improvements at Bradley Fold Industrial Estate, Radcliffe.

Tree planting on the road frontage at St Mary's Park, Prestwich.

Bury's environment chairman Cllr Wayne Campbell said: "This is wonderful news for the borough and I think our planners deserve credit for the hard work they have shown to help bring this extra funding."