FIREFIGHTERS and young environmental volunteers have joined forces to create a mini nature reserve.

The Princes Trust Bolton Team 13 has built the beautiful nature reserve, along with crews from the Greater Manchester Fire Brigade, on land at the Starting Point School in Astley Bridge.

The 13 young people are taking part in a 12-week personal development programme with the fire service.

They identified a piece of land at the school - which provides young children from overseas with basic orientation lessons before they enter mainstream schooling - and decided to create an environment that would welcome people into it.

A bag-packing day raised £305 to pay for materials and the team has filled planters and erected bird boxes.

Team member Eve Horren said: "The team has bonded very well and we have all worked very hard to create this nature reserve and to raise awareness of the nature around us."

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Walter Hall, opened the nature reserve.