A DISUSED railway carriage is to be turned into a restaurant after a pub landlord was given permission for the ambitious plan.

work is expected to get underway next year to transform the 90ft, 1901 passenger carriage into a unique dining area in the grounds of the Howfenner pub in Westhoughton.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plan at a meeting.

Afterwards, the pub landlord, Mike Williamson said he had been waiting two years to see his dream come to life since the carriage was delivered to the pub in Bolton Road, Westhoughton.

He said: "I am delighted. I will now sit down with the brewery and discuss how we push ahead with things."

Under the scheme, the pub will be extended to look like a railway platform, complete with canopy.

As well as converting the 60-ton carriage - which rests on sleepers - the pub will be refurbished.

The entire project will cost in the region of £400,000 and the pub will be closed for six weeks while the work is done.

Mr Williamson bought the carriage from a seller in Merseyside who was using it as a shop after abandoning plans to erect a conservatory.

It will be able to accommodate up to 45 diners.

The committee received only two objections to the plan on a number of grounds, including the noise that will be generated, the impact on property prices and claims that the carriage is unsightly and out of character for the area.

Officers told the meeting that the application would not have an adverse effect on the character of the area.