TRAIN passengers in Westhoughton will have their commute brightened up — thanks to a rockery created at the town’s railway station.

The Friends of Westhoughton Station worked with staff from The Co-operative’s food stores in Bolton to remove rubble, rocks and stones, and create a rockery area at the station.

It was the last of three projects carried out by supermarket staff in Bolton — amounting to more than 150 hours of volunteering.

The Westhoughton group, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, was given £200 towards materials — as well as a squad of volunteers to complete its project.

Stephen Freeborn, from Friends of Westhoughton Station, said: “We are really pleased with the support from The Co-operative — the helping hands that they provided came just at the right time.

“We are having an incredible response from the public to the work that we are doing to improve the area. We are now seeing a real difference and it is also great to see the sense of community spirit that is being created as more people and businesses offer their help, support and encouragement.”

The project has also been supported by Hardman and Cain fencing, Ian Phipps newsagent, Darbys Garden Centre and the Railway Motors Clutch Centre.

Shazad Amari, manager of The Co-operative food store in Market Street, Westhoughton, said: “It was great to join forces with volunteers from The Friends of Westhoughton Station — as a community retailer it is important to us that we contribute to improving local life.”

Friends of Westhoughton Station formed at the end of last year because they felt the site in Church Road, Westhoughton, needed a boost.

Other community groups to receive funding and volunteers from The Co-operative were SS Osmund and Andrew’s Primary School in Breightmet and Bromley Cross Village Hall.