CYCLISTS will be able to enjoy scenic new bike rides with the finishing touches being put to a new route which will eventually link the full length of the Sankey Canal route.

The cycleway will go through to Widnes via Warrington and final surfacing work is now taking place at Newton-le-Willows.

Local Sustainable Grant funding is being used for to carry out the work, due to be completed by April.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron said: “This is some of the most significant funding of its type.

“It will enable us to open up places in Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Rainford – for both cyclists and walkers - that weren’t easy to get to in the past. ”

Earlier this year a route from near The Dream sculpture to Widnes was opened, along with a course along the Rainford Linear Park from Rainford Industrial Estate to Rainford Junction.