A BUSINESSMAN'S ambition to open a thriving garden restaurant complex in the centre of one of Bolton's most beautiful parks is finally being fulfilled.

Paul Fitzpatrick, a family man from Over Hulton, has won planning permission to revitalise Queen's Park with a dream project that will create more than 70 jobs.

He is going to turn the site of the park's old butterfly house into a thriving restaurant, bistro, bar and conference suit -- for use as a wedding or business venue and day and night time entertainment spot.

The butterfly house was destroyed by arsonists five years ago. But now Mr Fitzpatrick and his partners plan to turn it into a popular attraction like Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens -- a thriving centre of 30 restaurants in a picturesque garden setting.

The Queen's Park restaurant will have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the park and a roof terrace, giving diners views across the park.

The cafe and bar will be able to seat 100 people and so will the restaurant. The wedding and business suite will cater for 180 people.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who has lived in the town for 40 years and owns the Eye to Eye TV and Video shop on St Helens Road, first visited Tivoli Gardens 30 years ago.

He said: "I was completely captivated by them. I knew that such a project would inject a vibrancy into the heart of Queen's Park. We have a fantastic park which has been dormant for years. It is such a beautiful setting for something like this and it will be tremendous to see people eating and drinking there."

"I have always had my eye on it. The next step is to get the funding in place to achieve this dream."

Mr Fitzpatrick and his partners are now trying to secure European funding for the massive £2 million project. They hope they will have the restaurant up and running within 18 months.Queen's Park dates back to 1865 and is included in the National Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest.