BOLTON’S famous elephants are packing their trunks once again to move into a new home in a £75,000 plan to create a children’s play area in the town centre.

The three brightly-coloured elephants — named Ellie, Elner and Mr Jackbow — will take pride of place in the new play area, which will be based in Octagon Square, in front of the former Lever Chambers health centre.

Bolton Council is moving the elephants as part of its £3 million revamp of Newport Street, which has already seen the charity canopy dismantled and trees cut down.

The project will include repaving the key thoroughfare and replacing the shop frontages to create a more “uniform appearance”.

The council will also install new seating, street lights and trees in its bid to spruce up the area.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “With the Newport Street redevelopment we are looking to create wide, open spaces to improve how it looks and also to make it more accessible for everyone.

“But in order to achieve this modern look and feel, it did leave us facing a real dilemma about the elephants.

“The elephants are the subject of much public affection as well being an important historic emblem for Bolton.

“We’re looking to build a small play area, subject to approval, in front of the Octagon multi-storey car park, and incorporate the elephants into the design."

A planning application is set to be submitted for the £75,000 play area, which will incorporate a range of different play equipment.

The area will also be repaved and new lighting will be installed.

The play area, which will be mainly for young families, is set to be completed early next year and a planning application could be submitted as soon as next week.

Cllr John Walsh, who has spoken out against other recent town centre plans, said the scheme seemed sensible.

He said: “It is important that they are preserved and remain in the town centre — there is an elephant trail in the town centre and we should take pride in our history.

“The space in Octagon Square is relatively unused so a play area will be all well and good as long as it is used for the right purposes.”

The plans have received a mixed response from residents and businesses.

Westhoughton mum Lisa Jenks brings her three-year-old daughter Paige to play on the elephants regularly.

She said: “Paige absolutely loves them, she always wants to climb on them whenever we are in the town centre.

“I really think they should have thought about building a play area around where they currently are — the other site is a bit out of the way and people feel more comfortable around here.”

Businessman Hamid Eghbali, who runs the Bella Pizza takeaway in Octagon Square, is backing the plans.

He said: “I think it is a good thing that they are finally using this space.

“I am glad they are doing something with it — they should put tables and chairs out as well so people can stay.”