THE promotion winning Shakers are set to take Bury town centre by storm next week with an open top bus tour.

The bus, decked out in blue and white, will take the squad and club officials from Gigg Lane next Wednesday for a VIP reception at Bury Town Hall to mark their rise to the Nationwide First Division.

It will set of at 5.45pm and travel via Market Street and Angouleme Way before a welcome from the Mayor Cllr Trevor Holt and other civic dignitaries.

Crowds are being encouraged to gather in Knowsley Street and the players and manager Stan Ternent will appear on the balcony at the side of the civic building at around 6.15pm.

Bury Council's acting chief executive, Mr Dennis Taylor is a keen Bury FC regular and closely involved with youth football in the borough. He said: "It is a dream come true for the Shakers and just like last year, the council wants to join in the celebrations.

"This season has been an amazing one. Everyone from the chairman to Bury FC supporters and backers, backroom staff, the manager and, of course, the players deserve to revel in promotion."

Bury Council leader, Cllr John Byrne, another Gigg Lane supporter, added: "For those fans who have followed the club in recent years, the last two seasons have been their reward.

"This year we have done it in style and, what style. Local pride is running at a new, all-time high with the success of the Shakers on the field being matched by the transformation of the town centre, the growing number of visitors to the borough and a genuine belief that we can all work together to improve things even further."

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