A sign lost to the sands of time has been recovered and put in its rightful place,  more than 40 years after it was made. 

The plaque was set to be installed at Station Park in Horwich when it was opened in 1980, but that never happened.

Now, after all these years it was handed in to local interest group Horwich Heritage, who have put it in its rightful place at the park entrance on St John Street. 

The sign reads: "Old Station Park. This park was officially opened by the Mayor of Horwich, Councillor Stanley Dawson. 

"September 27, 1980." 

Horwich Heritage group member Roy Davies said: "It was still wrapped in the cellophane from when it was made. 

The plaqueThe plaque (Image: Horwich Heritage)

"I don't know if anyone even knew it was made beside those who commissioned it, but it came out of the blue at the right time while we are doing work on it. 

"We had to ask the council if we could put it up, they said there was no problem so we stuck it up the other week. 

"It must have cost a fortune, it is made out of bronze! It was obviously purpose-made. It looks like it was ordered and the forgotten about."

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He added: "You know how it goes, it might get put off for a few weeks or months, then time goes on and it is forgotten. 

vThe railings where the plaque has been installed (Image: Horwich Heritage)

"This is the entrance on St John Street, where lots who play football park. 

"Cllr Stanley Dawson was well-known in Horwich, he was a loud, bombastic chap." 

The green space sits on the site of the former town centre Horwich Train Station, which closed in the 1960s. 

Horwich Heritage will also be improving the appearance of the old 'goods entrance' on Lee Lane. 

The group says that the area is overgrown and has wooden fencing "leaning at 60 degrees". 

It plans to put in an information board with pictures of what the old station looked like and employ a stone company to build a new wall. 

Traditional Victorian-style streetlamps are also set to be installed in the park in a Bolton Council scheme. 

The lights will be in the conservation area of Station Park.