A RESTORATION project of a historical site in Leigh has taken a leap forward after securing its future.

The Leigh Building Preservation Trust (LBPT) has announced it has taken a 99-year lease on one of the mills at the Leigh Spinner's complex to continue its work.

LBPT will take over the six floors that comprises 191,600 square feet at Mill Two and lease two floors back to the Leigh Spinners Company, which will expand its manufacturing and artificial turf operations.

One of the floors will be utilised for people to play sports including table tennis and indoor bowling with further space available for other games if required.

The other floors will provide room to display arts and offer room for small businesses.

Chair of the trust Peter Rowlinson said: "We are absolutely delighted to have reached a major milestone in the development of our project and to move beyond our heritage facilities to have space to deliver jobs and community facilities for the people of Leigh.

"We have now become one of the largest community heritage projects in the UK and have now secured national recognition for our project.

"I hope the people of Leigh are proud at this national recognition and we intend to make more positive announcements in the near future about other developments within the mill."

Funding has been granted from Historic England and Wigan Council to repair the mill's roof which will start later this month.

Work is also underway to refurbish its lift to allow visitors to have full access to the mill and allow disabled access to the trust's heritage facilities.

LBPT is hopeful of receiving further financial backing for the conversion of its floors soon.

The mill's engine was also in operation in a public display on Saturday after two years of work by volunteer engineers.

The trust recently won its first national accolade, the BRICK award for fundraising, which was organised by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust.

LBPT hope to open Mill One to the public by the end of 2020.