PARKS and public spaces in Ramsbottom and Bury are to be redeveloped thanks to a £3million boost.

Bury Council has secured the Government funding as part of a 'liveability' pilot scheme to improve parks, play areas and other public spaces.

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, announced the lottery-sized award during a visit to Manchester last week.

Bury is one of only three councils in the North West to receive a share of £9.1million. The other successful councils are Blackburn with Darwen and Ellesmere Port.

The money will help pay for environmental teams who will provide services such as litter picking, cleansing, graffiti removal, cleaning and repairs to street furniture, and minor footway repairs.

A borough-wide park ranger service and other facilities such as allotments, green ways, youth ball zones, play areas, sports pavilions and small urban spaces will benefit from the Government funding.

It will be split into two phases.

The first funding of £408,000 over two years will kick-start some of the new services.

Further funding of £2.65million over two years will be provided as a reward for improving services.

In Bury, the funding will see massive refurbishment works at Clarence Park, including Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom, and all 12 other local parks throughout the borough.

The funding is still subject to signing agreements with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that will be taking place throughout the month.

Councillor John Byrne, leader of Bury Council, said: "Bury is delighted with this exciting initiative.

"Our long-term vision for the borough is to make it a great place in which to live, work, study and visit and we believe that the liveability funding will be a key component in delivering this vision.

"This pilot gives Bury the opportunity to build on the success of previous initiatives in our parks, play areas and open spaces, and to share with others the lessons learned."

The funding boost follows a £1.5million council investment to create a Cleaner Safer and Greener Borough announced last October.

Works are currently ongoing to refurbish the front elevations to parks, provide new benches and bins across the borough, and construct new youth ball zones and a large play area in Clarence Park.

The news also comes after Burrs Country Park and Openshaw Park both received Green Flags in the autumn.