WALKERS, cyclists and horse riders will be able to travel back in time as Leigh and Tyldesley’s Roman, industrial and mining heritage is showcased along the 4.5-mile guided busway.

The Spinning Jenny, Gin Pit mining village, Bedford Colliery disaster and the remains of a Roman road are all subjects of huge new signs lining the busway path.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) teamed up with Wigan Council to design eight fact-filled signs, offering residents and visitors a unique insight into the area’s interesting past.

Featured legends include Thomas Highs of Leigh, who is said to have invented two crucial machines that kick-started the Industrial Revolution, and Elizabeth Parry, a pit brow lass at the Nook Pit in Tyldesley for 41 years who received a British Empire Medal in 1953.

As well as local history, nature lovers can also find out more about TfGM’s work to protect wildlife and habitats during the construction of the north west’s first guided busway.

Cllr Mark Aldred, deputy chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “It is great to see so many people already enjoying the busway path, which is a fantastic place to showcase the area’s rich heritage.

“As well as being an eye opener for visitors travelling to the area on the busway, I am sure that inquisitive minds both young and old will enjoy finding out more about the area they live in.”