Bolton’s Queen’s Park has been awarded a prestigious international award for the fourth year running.

A mystery shopper’s report revealed that the park is one of 1,970 UK parks and green spaces to be given the Green Flag award.

The award is given after judges from Keep Britain Tidy ‘mystery shop’ the green space- by dropping in unannounced to see how standards are being maintained.

The Green Flag Award is managed under license from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by Keep Britain Tidy, with its aim being to recognise and reward well managed parks and green spaces.

The park, which first opened its gates in 1866, contains flowerbeds, duck ponds, a children’s play area and a Grade II listed entrance lodge, which is accompanied by several listed statues.

The park scored top marks in all seven categories, including ‘landscape and heritage’, ‘welcoming’ and ‘well maintained and clean’.

In line with those categories, experts said the park was “very tidy, very welcoming and very well maintained.”

They added said that staff and users “were friendly” and “play equipment was excellent.”

The parks’ path network and sunken formal garden also came in for heavy praise, with the latter being called “outstanding.” In the report, “attractive entrances” and a high standard of horticulture came in for positive nods too. Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services Delivery, Councillor Adele Warren, said: “This is a wonderful report and testament to the hard work of our teams who maintain our beautiful park. Parks are the green lungs of our town and they have such a positive impact on everyone’s health and wellbeing.”

The park is already preparing for the future, with more equipment and investments being planned for the area.

Councillor Warren added: “We are investing £1.5 million to make the town greener and look cleaner, with some of that funding having already being spent on new mowers. We will also be installing some new benches which will enable more residents with mobility issues to access our green spaces, as well as more bins in the park and across the borough to help keep our parks clean.”