WORK begins soon on a £50 million gas pipeline which will cut through a giant path through Journal-land.

Preparations for laying the pipe have been laid over the past few months with a massive contractors' site being set-up alongside Wigan Road, Atherton.

The 105mm diameter pipeline will help meet the growing demand for gas in the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

It will run from Mawdlesley in West Lancs to Warrington and passes through Hindley, Atherton, Leigh, Glazebury and Glazebrook.

Archeologists will be on site during construction work since the pipeline could affect the Howe Bridge medieval settlement.

Howe Bridge is one of five important archeological sites along the route and one of 12,000 recorded in Greater Manchester.

Project manager, Peter Johnson, said: "The main activity will take place between April and October 2001.

"There will be some disruption for people but we will do everything within our power to keep it to a minimum."

Transco have set-up an information hotline on 01942 891793.

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