Residents in a Lancashire town will soon be able to access a new improved open space and play area as a result of significant investment.

Longfield Avenue in Coppull will benefit from an improved play area and landscaping work as a result of a £84k investment from Chorley Council and Jigsaw Homes.

The work, which started last month will see additional new play equipment installed to complement what is already there, new safety surfacing, and a series of landscaping works.

Council Leader Alistair Bradley said: "It's fantastic that the local community can benefit from a quality outdoor play area for years to come because of this investment.

"It's so important to have these spaces in residential areas and communities as they have a positive impact on our mental and physical wellbeing - they've been particularly important over the last 12 months."

The area was identified for improvement as part of the council's Play Open Space action plan for enhancement and over the past 18 months there has been engagement with the local community who, with their suggestions, have helped to shape how the enhancements will be delivered.

Ward councillors, Councillor Steve Holgate and Councillor Alex Hilton have been driving the plans forward to improve the environment and feeding back the views of residents.

In addition to the installation of play equipment such as new swings and slides, the work will include new boundary fencing and gates, new pathways, along with tree planting, creation of an orchard area, fruit bushes and mini wildflower meadow (part of the councils' wider plans to improve biodiversity across the borough).

Although the Covid pandemic put the project back temporarily the contractors were appointed to start on site in mid-April.

Chorley Council are also working with Lancashire County Council to improve access to the open space, implement a safer road crossing, slow down traffic and encourage safer parking, along with Jigsaw Homes to allocate additional parking spaces on the estate where possible with a consultation on a revised road scheme currently being carried out by Lancashire County Council.

Elsewhere in Coppull, the Hurst Brook play area and open space is being given a boost with new signage, new seesaw, path resurfacing work and tree planting.

There are also plans for areas of Adlington, Eccleston, Croston and Clayton-le-Woods to benefit from the installation of new play equipment and/or improvements to open spaces.