WORK has begun on a new £500,000 cafe at Moss Bank Park.

The building will be on the site of the old cafe which was destroyed by a fire in 2009.

Plans have been made for a 50- seater cafe as well as a kitchen, serving area, toilets and an outdoor seating space.

Work is expected to be completed in late spring and Bolton Council hopes to officially open the cafe this summer.

The funding from the cafe has been found from insurance money from the previous building as well as a contribution from a £2 million programme to invest in parks, green space and recreational facilities around Bolton.

That investment programme will also see the council spending money on playing fields, the refurbishing of tennis courts and games areas as well as funding cycle trails and the creation of Bolton’s first outdoor gym.

The cafe in Moss Bank Park will be bigger than the previous building and is moving location slightly so it can also act as the pedestrian entrance to the Hive — a community wildlife project run by the Wildlife Trust in the park.

Cllr John Byrne, cabinet member for neighbourhood and community services, said: “It’s brilliant that work has started on this new cafe, which will provide a place for visitors to stop for a coffee and chat, or even for lunch.

“It will be situated close to the popular children’s play area and also close to The Hive, where children can learn about nature and growing things, so we hope it will be well used by the local community and also by visitors to the park.”

The new cafe has been designed by Bolton architects Bradshaw Gass and Hope and is being built by North West building firm Jackson and Jackson.

Andy King from Bradshaw Gass and Hope said: “We are really pleased to be involved with this project.

“We have been operating for over 150 years and are always keen to support local re-development and to work closely with Bolton Council. I’m sure this facility will help the park in a really positive way.”