A CAR dealer network founded by a Bolton family is planning to expand its presence in the town.

A planning application to demolition a building and replace it with a further 50 display parking spaces outside the Swansway Honda dealership was put forward earlier this month.

READ MORE: Major car dealership set to motor into Bolton's former Toys r Us site

The proposals are still at an early stage, but the expansion would see the national company extend its premises on Folds Road.

Swansway was founded by Michael Smyth, the founder of regional firm RRG, which has its roots in the Radcliffe Road Garage, just off Bury New Road in Bolton.

READ MORE: New shop with a difference opens in Bolton's Market Place

RRG was started in 1967 and now employs 700 people across 21 dealerships in the North West and North Yorkshire.

In 2003, Mr Smyth having left RRG along with his sons David, John and Peter, founded Swansway, which has now expanded to include 20 garages.

Speaking to the Bolton News, Peter Smyth said: "We are really pleased with our investment in Bolton. The car retail market is changing, there's a lot of talk about the internet and we have really benefitted from that. It's helped our business a lot actually."

He explained that the family still feel a close bond with Bolton and were pleased to be a part of the town.

"There's still a close affiliation," he said. "My father's still a proud Boltonian and we still have a strong relationship with our colleagues at RRG."