A multimillion-pound roadworks project will see Bolton’s iconic Spirit of Sport statue moved to a new "prominent" location, an MP backing the bid says.

This comes after Bolton Council announced this week that, following a series of controversial public consultations, it will be applying to the government for £23m worth of Levelling Up funds to install a new traffic light system around De Havilland Way in Horwich.

The bid has depended on the support of Bolton West MP Chris Green who says he decided to back it after his initial concerns, about where the Spirit of Sport statue would be located and whether this would affect long hoped for calls for a junction 7 on the M61, were allayed.

He said: “There were significant flaws with the original plans which were scant on detail.

“We didn’t know where the Spirit of Sport statue would be moved too and I think they’ve now done enough to make that clear.”

He added: “Rather than being a distant exercise in highways planning, this has now gone to something where they actually realise that this matters to people’s lives.”

Mr Green explained that the statue will be placed in a "prominent" position next to the carriageway in front of the University of Bolton Stadium and says Horwich will still be able to put up a Christmas display.

He also said that nearby Austin’s Lane will remain a two-way with traffic lights working on demand and claimed this did not meant the end of aspirations for junction 7 on the M61, which the Bolton West MP says has always been his preferred option.

Mr Green said: “In my judgement we’ve got more chance of getting a junction 7 if we show we’ve got the infrastructure in place.”

If the bid is successful, the new traffic light systems will be installed on roundabouts on De Havilland Way with signalled junctions on the Beehive and Spirit of Sport Roundabouts, the A6 De Havilland Way Roundabout and at the M61 at junction 6.

It will now be considered by the Department for Levelling Up in Westminster before a final decision is made.