A BUSY footpath has been given a makeover by ex-offenders after residents claimed it had been left in a "disgraceful" state for six months.

Bolton Council sent out a community payback team to clear up the footpath, sited off Bolton Road in Westhoughton, which had previously contained bottles, cans, food wrappers and a plastic paddling pool.

Brian and Joan Leyden, of nearby Manchester Road, had complained to the council about the footpath.

They say it looks “transformed” and are delighted that action has finally been taken.

Mr Leyden, aged 73, said: “It looks a million times better than it was.

“I’m very happy with the outcome. We have battling for several months to get this path cleared up and it’s all come together.

“The article in The Bolton News which highlighted this had some impact.

“It was an eyesore before, but it’s been transformed now.

“I just hope the council don’t let it get back to what it was like before.”

Mrs Leyden, also aged 73, regularly uses the footpath, and said schoolchildren also use it every day.

She said: “I’m delighted that the footpath has been cleared. I will definitely use it more often now.

“Children use this footpath and there was a danger of rats getting into the area. It really was that bad.

“I spoke to an elderly lady about it and she said ‘it’s terrible, but you won’t get anything done about it’. Well, now we have.”

A council spokesman said: “Following an inspection, we arranged for the footpath to be cleaned up by a team from community payback on October 7.

“Our resources are limited which is why asked for their help and team have done a great job in cleaning it up.

“We would continue to urge the public to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and look after their borough.”