A HISTORIC Bolton park is officially one of the best in the country.

Queens Park has been given the prestigious Green Flag award — the Oscar for green spaces.

The national accolade is given to the best green spaces in the country and followed a £5.3 million restoration project of the town park.

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Green Flag, which recognises the hard work which has been put into redeveloping Queens Park, restoring it to its Victorian glory and providing an important community facility.

“We know that residents love the restored park too. They are coming in increasing numbers to walk, socialise, play sport, picnic, play on the play area and have an ice cream at the café.

“We hope that the Green Flag award encourages even more visitors from Bolton and wider afield to come and enjoy this very special park.”

Queens Park has been restored and enhanced, working sympathetically with its original Victorian design, as part of a £5.3m project funded by Bolton Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The lakes were dredged, walls and fountain reinstated, drainage and footpaths improved and a new café and play area were installed.

In addition the council refurbished the tennis court and multi-use games area, and installed a popular outdoor gym

Judges praised the clear signage in the park, which include information and photos on the history of the park and the wide pathways, suitable for pram and wheelchair access, as well as the clear sightlines across the park.

They also praised the fact that the park is used by school groups, walkers and local families, as well as a junior parkrun. They concluded by saying that ‘the park is a very lovely site that has been tastefully restored to its former glory’.

Councillors, council officers and Friends of Queens Park gathered at the park to celebrate the achievement — and memories of the park when they were younger.

John Harding, from Friends of Queens Park, said: "To those involved this is a crowning acknowledgement of not only the hard work over the past five years but also to all those campaigned and planned for it."

He added: "I think the park is absolutely marvellous.

"The friends have been involved in the consultation, and was formed as part of Bolton's bid to get Heritage funding."

Mr Harding said that spaces like this were important for the "physical and mental health" wellbeing of people.

Cllr Morris added: "We used to spend our summers here during the holidays when I was younger and now bring my grandchildren here to feed the ducks.

"It's wonderful to walk through the park which we have opened up so no one feels vulnerable in it."

Moses Gate Country Park and Moss Bank Park have also previously been awarded the Green Flag Award.