THE University of Bolton has this week signed a commitment to develop education in Bury ­— however it is not the first foray the university has made into expanding its regional ambit.

In April 2016 it was announced that colleges in Bolton and Bury could merge with the university as part of a major education shake-up.

Proposals were put forward by Bury College to explore a possible merger, with talks between the three institutions taking place place against the backdrop of a nationwide review of further education.

Talks were initially welcomed by all parties, and the plans were first given the green light in September 2016.

But by March 2017 there were fears that Bury College could pull out of the merger, leading university bosses to say it would be “regrettable” if the plans were “derailed”.

In an unexpected twist, the merger with Bury College was then scrapped in April 2017, with governors blaming “a number of issues and complexities” for the halted plans. However the merger with Bolton College went ahead, being held up as a national pilot.