A PROJECT to recreate a piece of Bolton's industrial heritage is steaming ahead thanks to a £5,000 donation.

The Bolton Steam Museum's plans to build a new boilerhouse at its Atlas Mill centre has been given a huge boost by the owners of Swan Lane Mill.

Enthusiasts at the museum still need to raise £25,000 for the project to provide steam power to drive 25 textile mill engines which have been rebuilt since the 1990s.

Visitors to the museum have been able to see the engines working under electric power, but Northern Mill Engine Society chairman Neil Carney said the boilerhouse would allow the engines to operate in their original glory.

"To fully appreciate these wonderful machines, they should be seen working in steam for which they were designed," he said.

"However, until recently we have not had a suitable boiler to generate the steam and, even now, we cannot find space for it inside the museum.

"This is a extraordinarily generous gesture," added honorary secretary John Phillp. "We are delighted that our work is being supported by Douglas Hampson, John Oliver and Peter Aspinall, the owners of the Swan Centre."

Grade two listed Swan Lane Mill, now the Swan Centre, is being developed to provide industrial units and storage.