A TEAM of new rangers is set to patrol the borough's parks this summer.

Bury is one of only three authorities in the region to receive money from the Government's liveability fund, which will partly fund this expansion of the ranger service.

Neil Long, head of the council's parks and countryside service, said: "The service is still in its infancy but will hopefully allow a full seven-day patrolling of all of the borough's parks.

"The idea is that there will be a park ranger per area board, with rangers from adjoining areas working together on park ranger events.

"There will also be chances for people to get involved in their local park, through the Volunteer Park Ranger Service and the Junior Park Ranger Service, plus an education programme that will involve local primary schools on environmental issues with part of the time spent in the classroom and part in the parks."

People are invited to "meet the ranger" at a range of events in June, which all run from 2pm to 4pm. They are:

Saturday, June 12: Clarence Park, Bury to meet Jim Wynn.

Sunday, June 13: Close Park, Radcliffe, to meet Paul Danter at the Treasure Hunt event.

Saturday, June 19: Bolton Road Park, Radcliffe to meet Carragh Teague.

Saturday, June 19: Openshaw Park, Bury to meet Richard Lester at the Treasure Hunt event.

Sunday, June 20: at Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom, to meet Amy Leach.

Saturday, June 26: Whitehead Park, Bury to meet Ron Berry.

Sunday, June 27: St Mary's Park, Prestwich to meet Ian Rogers.