VOLUNTEERS got stuck in to help bring a community park back up to scratch.

Longsight Park has been blighted by anti-social behaviour and vandalism but members of a support group stepped in last week to bring some colour back to the site.

Seed beds were filled with compost and new bulbs planted by the Friends of Longsight Park Group, joined by volunteers from recycling firm Viridor and the North East Wildlife Trail.

The team spent last Wednesday completing the renovations, shovelling tonnes of new soil into the beds, which had been repaired because of earlier damage.

Jane Wilcock, secretary of the Friends of Longsight Park, said the group aims to "improve the park for everyone".

"The paths were mud, the seats broken and there were no flower beds," she explained.

"Determined to improve the paths and seating for everyone, including anyone with mobility problems, we have worked with the council to undertake path repair, new seating and create flower beds at the level end of the park, down Longsight Lane.

"We created or repaired walls to 3 flower beds and last week was the end of 4 years of hard work when we turned out with Viridor Recycling Services, Bolton, to spade their tonnes of donated compost onto the new beds, plant bulbs and flowers.

"They were great! We are proud to now have an accessible area of 3 interlocking paths and flowers for everyone to enjoy."

Over the past year, the park has been the subject of ongoing problems, with youths seen starting fires and damaging newly-placed benches.

In March, two trees died as a result of fires started near the recreation area and Dr Wilcock said that in the past year, the park has lost 30 beech trees due to "unexplained circumstances" with evidence of deliberate damage to some.