PART of a company's car park has had to be sealed off over fears that a river embankment could collapse.

Leigh's Paints in Kestor Street, Bolton, has cordoned off a 15-yard stretch of their staff car park next to the River Tonge.

The move comes after Bolton Parish Primary School, which is next to the car park, had to be closed after Bolton Council engineers found that the playground was in danger of slipping into the river, putting the school building at risk.

Malcolm Snowball, finance director at Leigh's Paints, said: "We have cordoned off part of the car park next to the river. It is purely as a precaution."

We have not had any of the banking coming away."

Mr Snowball said because the factory was set back from the river there is no risk of the subsidence affected buildings. They were awaiting the result of a council survey before they decided on their next step.

Bolton Parish School has been closed to pupils for at least the rest of the autumn term. Youngsters will be temporarily taught at Longsight Primary School in Harwood.