STEADFAST support was shown for a campaign to preserve lodges which straddle Ainsworth, Starling and Elton, when residents turned out in force for a second public meeting.

Around 200 people attended the gathering at Bolton Road Sports Club, organised by the Friends of Cockey Moor, Whitehead and Parker's Lodges.

The group hopes to establish a nature reserve and prevent any development on land around the lodges, which is currently being sold by owners the IPT Group.

Those present last Thursday (Nov1) were told of the progress made since a public meeting in September, which was attended by nearly 300 people.

Friends chairman Elaine Shirt told them that the group had been working to secure help in designating the site as a local nature reserve.

She revealed that woodland project group the Red Rose Forest had expressed an interest in helping to manage any such reserve, in co-operation with the Mersey Basin Trust. The Friends have also secured a £300 grant from the Bury West area board Kickstart budget, to cover the cost of meetings and administration.

Group secretary Jim Fairclough updated the audience on moves to have the site recognised for its wildlife value, with sheets to record flora and fauna handed out to walkers and anglers.

He told the audience that boundaries of two Sites of Biological Importance around the lodges had already been extended, after survey work by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit.

Following the meeting Mrs Shirt told the Bury Times: "We were delighted with the turnout, there were so many people there that they were standing up against the walls by the time the meeting started.

"We told people what we had been doing and everyone came out at the end of the meeting with happy faces.

"Hopefully together we'll be able to achieve long term sustainable management for the lodges in the future."