A 15-month project to renovate the grounds and facilities at Turton Tower will be completed later this month.

‘Disgusting’ toilets are being replaced, a woodland trail network has been built, and an 1830s water wheel will be repositioned.

The changes come after Coun Jean Rigby and Kath Godfrey, of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, successfully applied for a £55,096 grant from landfill comany Biffa.

Coun Rigby said: “It’s taken a lot of patience, meetings and hard work.

"Sometimes you wonder if you would do it again, but hopefully people will appreciate it and it will be well worth it.”

The waterwheel from a demolished mill in Turton Bottoms was moved to the tower in the 1980s.

It has since fallen into disrepair and was causing structural damage.

With £15,000 of the grant, it will be restored and moved to a ‘Welcome to Edgworth’ sign in Bury Road, Edgworth.

The toilet blocks are set to be finished in two weeks.

Coun Rigby, who has overseen the work, said: “The toilets were very old, damp and horrible, but now they’re being replaced with state of the art equipment and will be very nice.

“There used to be a lead ridge in the building that was forever being stolen and cost a lot of money to replace, but that has been taken out now.

"It will make the experience of going to the tea room and the tower much better.”

Money has also been spent on creating and renovating 415 metres of paths to form the locally-labelled Queen’s Walk.

Existing trails were deemed unsuitable for disabled or wheelchair access and in wet conditions almost impassable.

They also lacked signage, so pedestrians were unaware of historical and physical features of the area.

Now finished, the paths provide better access for disabled visitors, and leaflets and information have been produced.