Work started today to create more than 70 parking spaces at Daisy Hill train station.

A total of 74 spaces will be created at the popular station, providing official park-and-ride facilities for the first time.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) and Bolton Council are jointly funding the project through the town's Transport Infrastructure Fund.

The fund will also benefit commuters travelling from Hall i'th' Wood station when work to create a 30-space park-and-ride facility gets underway later this month.

Councillor Margaret Clare, GMPTA spokesperson for Bolton, said: "Parking at these two stations has been in high demand for some time but, with no official car parks, passengers have had to make do with what space is available nearby.

"So I'm delighted that they will soon benefit from these new secure facilities, which I hope will encourage even more people to park and ride and make their trip by public transport."

The car park at Daisy Hill will be accessed by Leigh Road and Hall i'th' Wood will be accessed from Crompton Way. Both car parks will have fencing and street lighting and the new car park at Daisy Hill will also be covered by CCTV.

Bolton Council is carrying out the work.

The Daisy Hill scheme is expected to take around ten weeks and will involve temporary traffic lights on Leigh Road for short periods. Work at Hall i'th' Wood is likely to take around four weeks.