THE transformation of Ramsbottom Memorial Gardens have been unveiled as fences surrounding the church on Bridge Street came down this week.

The final part of phase one of the work to transform the gardens is now complete with benches now back in place.

For over eight years, the Ramsbottom War Memorial Group has been researching the names of all service personal from the district who have fallen in conflict since the beginning of the First World War.

Bury Times: Memorial Gardens Ramsbottom

The memorial will bear the names of Armed Service and Merchant Service Personnel from the Ramsbottom Urban District who have given their lives since the start of WW1.

Now the paths have been completed and the stone sets around the war memorial are in place, with benches back in position.

Planing of new trees and shrubs will be carried out in the autumn.

Later this month, phase two of the work will get underway with the memorial being professionally cleaned before the lettering and sword are repainted.

Bury Times: WORK: Final part of phase one complete

In June, new stone plinths will arrive and be placed into position around the war memorial before being engraved with the names of the fallen.

Work on the phase one started in March, with the gardens, well used by people visiting Ramsbottom town centre, being fenced off.

In order to avoid the duplication of names which are already on Civic memorials in other towns, only those who were living in Ramsbottom Urban District at the time of their enlistment will be included on the new memorial.

The names of those who are to be inscribed can be found at ramsbottomwarmemorialproject.co.uk

The project is expected work will be completed this year.

For more information and to follow the progress visit http://www.ramsbottomwarmemorialproject.co.uk/