AN investment of almost £7 million by St Helens Council has helped to transform Sutton.

Pictured here are some of the residents who have played a major part in bringing the Sutton Village Initiative to its completion. They were congratulated by Councillor Mike Doyle who made a special visit to see completed works.

The initiative, launched in 1989 by the council, set out to improve a number of aspects of Sutton including private housing, the environment and the central shopping area.

Chairman of the council's Housing and Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Richard Ward, said: "Since the council declared Sutton Village a priority for action, the area has benefited from investment of nearly £7million. This has gone towards improving housing, the environment, the commercial centre and the infrastructure of the village.

" Most importantly all of this has been achieved through the close working relationship which has developed between the council and the local residents and shopkeepers."

And chair of the Sutton Village Area Committee, Rita Wallace commented: "Sutton Village has been boosted by the schemes now completed and from the money spent in the area."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.