A NEW video is set to beat foot and mouth restrictions -- by bringing the Rivington countryside into the living room.

Alan Stirk, a retired teacher from Egerton, has created the 70-minute video as part of his Armchair Rambler series.

And he managed to finish filming the now off-limits countryside just a week before swingeing access restrictions were put into place.

Alan started creating the videos when he realised that not everyone can get out and about to enjoy walking locally.

So, armed with a video camera, he tramped around the north Bolton area, chronicling on tape different local circular walks and the countryside they cover.

The resulting two videos of the West Pennine area have been a great success, even landing Alan TV coverage.

Rambling Round Rivington not only shows some of the Bolton area's most beautiful countryside but is also a tribute to Lord Leverhulme who was born 150 years ago next month.

The video features William Hesketh Lever's birthplace in Bolton and outlines some of his achievements. The rambles cover Port Sunlight and Lever Park, taking in highlights like the Chinese Gardens and the Pigeon Tower, and going up to the masts and the Pike.

He has even brought the film right up to date with the sale of the house and contents of Thornton Manor -- Lord Leverhulme's home -- earlier this year.

"It was impossible to cover Rivington without mentioning Lord Leverhulme -- the two are so closely entwined. So I made the video to commemorate his birth," Alan said.

Now, the North West Film Archives are also interested in adding to their regional records with Alan's videos. "One lady even sent copies to her family abroad to show them what the Bolton area is still like," he added.

So, what next for Bolton's armchair rambler? "Well," said Alan, "There's still plenty of countryside out there . . ."

Rambling Round Rivington costs £10, available from Bolton Library shop and Rivington Barn.