CAMPAIGNERS wanting to preserve the former Bury to Bolton railway line are celebrating after a housing development was thrown off track.

A plan had been submitted by Blackthorn Homes to build 50 houses and a five-storey block of flats on the railway cutting at Darcy Lever, but was rejected by Bolton Council planners.

Last month, around 30 people, including Bolton's two MPs, staged a protest march along the disused line from Bradley Fold to the proposed site of the development.

Little Lever resident Sean Hornby said: "This now opens up the possibility for Metrolink to consider, in the future, extending along this former line to link up with the Bury to Manchester route."