TWO historic cast iron elephants, which have been on display in the borough for more than a century, will feature as part of a new town centre playground, it has been revealed.

Last week The Bolton News reported on council plans for a play area to be built in Octagon Square, with three brightly coloured elephants which are currently based in Newport Street being moved to form part of the new facility.

The news prompted some residents to question what would become of two other elephant statues, which were previously placed on top of the Newport Street charity canopy before it was dismantled last year.

Previously the cast iron elephants in question were on display at the former Bridson’s bleach works in Chorley Street, where they stood proudly on the gate posts for more than 100 years until the demolition of the works in 1977.

The elephant has long been a historic symbol for Bolton and the animal has always been a feature of the town’s coat of arms.

The main theory of the borough’s association with the elephant is linked to a connection with the City of Coventry, which also incorporates the animal on its coat of arms.

Bolton Council leader Cliff Morris said he was pleased to announce that the elephants would be joining their brightly coloured comrades in the new play area.

He said: “The plan is for those elephants to go in the new play area.

“We need to be careful with them because they are very delicate and so we need to make sure they won’t be in easy reach of people because they could become damaged.

“The current idea is to have them as some form of gateway to the area — we are very aware of the important symbolic significance of the elephants in Bolton.”

The news has gone down well with councillors and residents who were keen to see the historic creatures given a new home.

Tory councillor John Walsh said: “I am very happy to hear this news and pleased that they are going to be on display in a prominent position in the town centre.”

Breightmet resident Dennis Pilling, aged 71, said he remembers passing the elephants at Bridson’s in the 1950s.

He said: “I have fond memories of me and my brothers seeing them standing proud at the bleach works.

“I am very happy to hear where they will be moving to, people couldn’t see them when they were on the canopy and they deserve to be on show.”