A NATURAL wetland area which will benefit the whole community is well on its way to completion in Barnoldswick.

A team of six apprentices from Rolls-Royce launched the project in March to transform an area of sodden ground which was previously impassable.

The site is located along the pathway which runs from Victory Park to Greenberfield Lane, on land adjacent to Rolls-Royce's Bankfield site.

The project will open up all of the pathways and bridges and the area will be accessible to wheelchair users, with anti-motorcycle gates at either end.

A stone path has been created from the bridge at Victory Park to the pump house and the site will feature a pond, boardwalk and bridge.

The wetland area will also be home to a variety of plants and wildlife.

Three fourth year apprentices and three second and third year apprentices make up the project team. The group worked hard to get the project off the ground, successfully gaining planning permission and a path diversion permit.

The apprentices also managed to get financial support from the local community, including a £400 grant from Barnoldswick Town Council.

The wetland area has cost around £6,000 to develop, but the costs were reduced thanks to support from contractors who worked on the site for reduced rates.

Apprentice Darren Morley said: "We developed our ideas and researched them in detail and worked out who would be doing what.

"It has been a lot more difficult than we thought it would be - sometimes we had doubts whether we would finish it.

"We have learnt a lot, particularly about team work," he added.

Training officer Gordon Butterworth said the group was planning to visit local schools to give a presentation on the project and that a grand opening would be held at the site in the near future.