WORK got underway this week on the second phase of improvements at the Longfield Centre in Prestwich.

The refurbishment programme is at the heart of the Prestwich Village Strategy which aims to regenerate the town centre.

The second phase of the work will cost £1.3m, with most of the money coming from the North West Development Agency (NWDA). It will take around 40 weeks.

The work will include improvements to the Village Square, Poppythorn Lane and the pedestrian walkways through the Longfield Centre. Plans of the project can be viewed at Prestwich Library.

Centre piece of the project will be a large glass sculpture and water feature within the Village Square.

It was designed by artist, Isabella Lockett, after she undertook an extensive programme of workshops with local schools and other community groups. Previously the NWDA have provided £300,000 grant funding towards the £600,000 improvement of the Longfield Centre Car Park, which formed phase one of the overall Improvement Project.