THE mystery surrounding an eerie banging noise heard coming from a Bolton park has been solved.

Residents living near Queens Park in Bolton reported hearing a repetitive "loud tapping" in the early hours throughout last week.

Police officers called to investigate eventually traced the noise to construction work on a nearby railway line, it was reported.

It emerged Network Rail had also sent out letters to residents warning them of possible disruption at night from the noise coming from work associated with the electric train lines.

The Bolton to Lostock railway line runs just south of Queens Park.

Readers also got in touch speculating on what they believed the peculiar noise to be.

One man said: "I live in Great Lever, towards the top end of Derby Street, and have heard the noises every day since Sunday, November 27.

"In my opinion, they seem too loud for where I am to be found at Queens Park, but I have definitely heard them."

Another said: "The noise you are hearing is that of a pile driving machine banging concrete piled into the ground.

"The sound is travelling from wherever it is coming from around the area, making it sound like its in the park.

"It could be coming from the new transport interchange site or the new Horwich Leisure Centre site."

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail is carrying out foundation work in preparation for electrification of the line between Preston and  Manchester. The work forms part of our Railway Upgrade Plan which will help to deliver better passenger journeys . The foundations will support new overhead line equipment that will provide power to electric trains on the route from December 2017.

“We have engaged extensively with the public and in particular with those living near to the railway. This included a  letter to residents in the area at the end of September outlining that the work would be carried out from Saturday 15 October 2016 to Saturday 24 December 2016.”