RESIDENTS in a Rossendale street could be heading back to Victorian times as a new £1.3million refurbishment project gets under way.

Railway Street in Ramsbottom has been earmarked for an £83,000 facelift as part of the North West Development Agency scheme.

The remaining cash will be distributed the cash between a number of environmental and regeneration schemes across Bury, which includes Ramsbottom.

Railway Street will see a number of environmental improvements along the length of the street -- which runs parallel to the Ramsbottom Station of the popular East Lancashire Railway between Rawtenstall and Bury.

Howard Aitken, development manager for Bury Metro, said the work would expand on improvements already made to Ramsbottom Station over the last few years.

He added: "One of the things that is quite noticeable about Ramsbottom is how the heritage feel tails off until you get into town itself.

"For that reason we decided to invest a modest amount of money round the car park area which is used for Sunday walks.

"We want to develop the Victorian look on things like street lamps. We also want to update signage as we expect a number of visitors to the valley and we can tell them what to explore."

Mr Aitken said the work will be carried out over the next two to three months.