A woodland walk in a popular park will soon be open to all under new improvement plans.

Pathways through Bolton's Arboretum are set to be upgraded and created as part of works taking place in the Longsight Park, Harwood.

United Utilities is currently working near Bradshaw Brook to put in an underground storage tank to collect sewage and ensure it does not spill into the brook.

As a result of the work they have to close a large section of the park, including walkways, which will take in the arboretum.

But new paths have been created and upgraded ahead of the work.

The works prompted Jane Wilcock and the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park to ask United Utilities and Bolton Council to create new paths.

The Bolton News:

Jane said: “The 400m path beside Bradshaw Brook at Bolton arboretum is being upgraded this week in order to provide dry walking for locals.

“In late summer United Utilities are closing off the opposite arboretum path and have paid to upgrade this path, organised by Friends of Longsight Park, to provide good path alternative for walkers.”

Pictures show how the pathway looked before and after as works got underway.

United Utilities are set to  start their sewerage improvement works in a few months.

The work comes after complaints of broken sewage lids causing dirty water to come up around Longsight Park in April whenever it rained.

United Utilities have since fixed the lids located on Bradshaw Brook and Bolton Arboretum.

The Bolton News:

Jane said the new paths were just for pedestrians, and rails will also be installed on steep areas to help those with mobility problems.

Conservative Cllr James Moller for the Bradshaw ward said: “It is great that we are upgrading the paths around Longsight, making them safer to use and easier to access for the public.

“With the work that has taken place, this can encourage more walkers and group activities in the area.”

The Kingfisher Trail also runs through the arboretum and will be rerouted to the new side, where the path runs through upper Bradshaw local nature reserve.

Jane said: “United Utilities have also contributed for path upgrades for another 400m to the Tonge with Haulgh end of the main park, from Scope o' Lane footbridge to the main path, again including a section of the Kingfisher Trail by Bradshaw Brook."