LITTLE Laura Balmer will stand back in years to come and proudly remember how she helped brighten her surroundings.

The three-year-old was one of a willing army of helpers who planted 6,000 tulip, crocus and daffodils at Leigh's Firs Park.

Volunteers grabbed spades, trowels and wheelbarrows to set about planting a mountain of bulbs. Shrugging off November blues they dug deeply in the hope of a brilliant Spring-time reward.

Firs Park User Group organiser Jeff Jervis said: "We're doing everything we can to make the park and lake a focal point for the community.

"People can really take pride in the place, especially when they have worked hard to make it look good."

And, above, environment-friendly locals have been making life easier for their feathered friends.

Swans and ducks regularly fall foul of tangled fishing line discarded on the shoreline of Firs Park lake.

But for the staunch efforts of Urban Rangers and locals, web-footed victims would have suffered an agonising death.

More caring park visitors including local children, Park User Group members, Duke of Edinburgh award and Adventure Service scheme participants mounted a massive clean-up campaign.

They filled a rubbish skip with a mountain of discarded crisp packets, tin cans, tyres, cardboard and even bicycles.

Ranger Kath Lomas said: "The clean-up was very successful and we are most grateful to everyone who took part, especially the children. But it did show up what a serious problem discarded fishing line has become.

"It is distressing to see swans and ducks getting more and more frantic in their struggles to escape.

"We know responsible fishermen are careful with line and with lead weights which can poison creatures. But the line does not get onto the shores by itself.

"Whoever is responsible, we would ask them not to leave broken line where it can harm some wild creature. Please take it home and dispose of it properly."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.