THE official opening of a historic pond restoration in Darwen will take place later this month.

Works to restore the Ellis Gibson pond in Sunnyhurst Wood to its former glory began last year after the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood secured funding.

The pond will be opened on April 29 at 2pm with guests including the People for Ponds group who have supported the scheme.

The project to put the Ellis Gibson fishpond back in its original state cost £11,600, with £3,000 coming from the awards run by our sister paper, The Citizen, with Crown Paints.

The pond was created in 1906 by Ellis Gibson who stocked it with fish at his own expense.

It fell into disrepair in the 1980s. Commonly known as the Frog Pond, it was always popular with children.