School children have been busy planting flower beds at Bolton’s newest park to help get it ready to open this spring.

Groups from St Peter and St Paul’s RC Primary School, Gilnow Primary School, Pikes Lane Primary School and Bolton Parish Church Primary School all took park.

Scheduled to open in March, the new green space occupies the site of the former Odeon cinema on Ashburner Street and is named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The new flowerbeds border an area set to become a large lawn.

The Bolton News: The new greenspace will now be named 'Elizabeth Park' (Image: PA)

Seating areas, picnic tables and illuminated trees are already taking shape, along with a public performance space that will be supported with an exciting programme of events and activities.

The children were joined by Cllr Richard Silvester, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Environment, and Cllr Martin Donaghy, Executive Member for Children’s Services.

The Bolton News: Children from St Peter and St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School

The new park has been funded by the government’s Towns Fund, which has also supported the renovation of Bolton Central Library, a reimagined Bolton Market, major improvements to Ashburner Street and the ongoing conversion of the Wellsprings office building into an innovation hub for start-up businesses.

Together with the development of Moor Lane, this area of Bolton is being completely transformed as part of the council’s wider plan to regenerate the town centre into a vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit.

Cllr Silvester said:“Bolton is unusually blessed in its parks, playing fields and green spaces, which have a vital role to play in the town’s regeneration.

“Elizabeth Park is key piece in the council’s ambitious plans to reinvent this part of the town centre, linking in with the recently refurbished central library around the corner, the market’s soon-to-be-opened food hall and the new homes just across the road.”

The Bolton News: Children from St Peter and St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, with headteacher Louise Bates

Cllr Donaghy said:“I’d like to thank the schools for coming down to the park and the children for all their hard work helping ready it for the public.

“It was a great opportunity for the children to learn about nature and get their hands dirty, and I hope they’ll keep visiting the park for years to come and remember that they helped to create it.

“Come spring I expect they will be amazed to see that the flowers are as a tall as they are.”

Kate Hesketh, headteacher of Gilnow Primary School, said: “We are delighted that the children from Gilnow have been able to be involved in the development of this new space - it is through participation like this that children develop a pride in their local area and community.

“We hope that Elizabeth Park will be a space that is used by the young people of Bolton as well as being a fitting tribute to the late Queen.”

Louise Bates, headteacher of St Peter and St Paul’s, said: “I am honoured to be involved, with the children, in the planting in this new Elizabeth Park.

“Just as her Majesty’s legacy inspired generations, may this park become a cherished space for future generations.

“It is important that our children, many of whom live near the town centre, are involved in the creation of this special place, so that this may gave them a sense of responsibility to look after our wonderful town of Bolton, and give them a connection to this park.”