A park bandstand has been officially opened in style after being restored.

Nuttall Park was given to the people of Ramsbottom in 1928 by Lieutenant Colonel A.T. Porritt, a prominent and generous local mill owner.

A year later he added a bandstand much to the delight of residents who came to listen to the bands after working hard in the mills all week.

The metal structure was removed in the 1950s but the stone plinth remained.

Restoring the bandstand to its former glory began when Ramsbottom Heritage Society was able to refurbish the stone plinth, making it safe thanks to members finding some missing stones from the plinth on a wall in the park.

Friends of Nuttall Park picked up the restoration challenge and, even with the protracted delay due to the pandemic, persevered and were able to complete the structure in partnership with Bury Council.

Work began in 2021 and has recently been completed by Buxton-based Leander Architectural, which created the original castings.

An opening event took place on Sunday, October 1 in front of a crowd after it being long awaited.

There was a concert from Besses o’ th’ Barn Band and Rossendale Ukulele Band and there were stalls selling hot food, a bar, a cake stall and tearoom with donations supporting Bury Hospice.

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Gwenda Newton, chair of Friends of Nuttall Park, thanked people who helped with the restoration and Bury mayor, Cllr Sandra Walmsley, cut the ribbon.

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The group hopes to organise monthly band concerts during the summer months, and it is hoped that other groups and individuals will be able to provide entertainment now there is a stage on which to do this.

Bury North MP James Daly said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be down at the opening of the bandstand at Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom.

“A huge congratulations to Gwenda and Friends of Nuttall Park group who have done a fantastic job in bringing the bandstand back into use - and for putting on such a good day with music and stalls!”