THE Crofters Arms has rediscovered its true identity after decades of featuring the wrong profession on its sign.

The painting of the Bradshaw Road pub now correctly depicts a bleach crofter at work, rather than a sheep crofter gathering his flock, complete with the Scottish mountains in the background.

Local historian Jim Francis has campaigned for the sign to be changed after years of cringing as he walked past the pub.

He said he first spotted the mistake years ago when a large pub company took over the premises.

He wrote to the brewery, but they never replied.

Mr Francis, aged 76, said: "When the new owners put in a planning application the local council, who knew about the problem with the sign, asked them to change it and asked me for help with the design."

He added: "I put them straight on it and I must say I'm delighted as they have done pretty much exactly what I suggested."

The new sign at the Bradshaw pub was unveiled to celebrate its re-opening after a £300,000 refurbishment.

The watering hole was built in 1790 and got its name from the local industry of bleach crofting.

Mr Francis, of Old Ned's Farm, Bradshaw, is chairman of the Turton Local History Society, and said workers in the industry used to put woven cloth out in the sun.

He added: "The sheets were laid out on the fields, which were also called crofts, and left to be naturally bleached."

The new owners of the pub, Punch Retail, said they had given the building a new look, but wanted to hold on to its heritage.

Business development manager Eddy Gaskill, said: "We don't want to forget the pub's traditional roots.

"It's very important to the company to maintain its pubs as an integral part of the local community."

The bar was closed by its former owners for several months in 1999 after a brawl.

This is the second refurbishment to have taken place in two years.

Punch Retail said it has a completely new look, with improved menu, games machines and big screen sports.