A NEW improvement programme aims to open up the borough's works of art to disabled people.

And work is already underway at Outwood to improve access to the major Ulrich Ruckriem sculpture.

The programme involves three sections of the Irwell Sculpture Trail and will make them more accessible for people with mobility problems.

It is part of a package of "Access for All" improvements which are being carried out to the trail with support from the Countryside Agency.

Improvements are already nearing completion at Outwood and Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom to improve access to Kerry Morrison's "Seek and You Will Find" sculpture. Councillor Gordon Sharkey, the council's disability spokesman, said the new works are at Burrs Country Park in Bury and will go on until next month.

"Once completed it will mean improved access for people with mobility difficulties which includes everyone from disabled people to parents with buggies," he said.

"The works will include creating resting places on existing paths, building new paths to overcome steep gradients and carrying out improvements around Burrs Cottages to make it easier for people in wheelchairs to cross the cobbled road."

The Countryside Agency is giving Bury Council £75,000 over three years to help to make the sculptures on the Irwell Sculpture Trail more accessible.

"At Nuttall Park a new circular path is being made around the area," said Coun Sharkey. "We also hope, later this year, to improve the path alongside Coney Green High School in Radcliffe and also part of the towpath alongside the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal.

"Art is to be enjoyed by all and these improvements will mean that those with mobility problems will be able to get out and about and do just that."

Once completed the improvements at Burrs will mean better access to the three sculptures there: "Stone Cycle" by Julie Edwards, "Picnic Area" by David Fryer and "Water-wheel" by David Kemp.