THE lake at Rivington Gardens has been drained as part of £4.2m restoration works.

Reader Ken Newbon took this picture of the Rivington Terraced Gardens, which will be re-lined and then re-filled. The project was created with the help of a £3.4m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It aims to restore gardens and landmarks, making the area safe enough to be opened to the public.

The programme will also incorporate work to listed structures such as the Pigeon Tower and five summer houses.

The terraced gardens were created by industrialist and philanthropist Lord Leverhulme during the early 20th century and in their 1920s heyday the gardens boasted lakes, waterfalls, pagodas, oriental tea houses and even a small zoo.

Some 200,000 people visit the gardens every year.