Stephen Walton, 56, has breathed new life into the former Bury Bookshop, in Hatter Street.

He said: "I am very excited to be opening up. It just felt right. There is something happening in Bury at the moment and, if you look around this part of town, it has got a great future."

A director of the Theatre Royal, in Bury, from 1981 to 1990, Mr Walton also owned a gallery in Guildhall Street in 1998.

But having held exhibitions in the town and surrounding areas for the past 10 years, he felt the time was right to stake a claim in the town's booming future.

He said: "There is so much happening in Bury with the Cattle Market and everything, I felt this was the place to be.

"There are lots of interesting people coming into the town. Hatter Street could be the new Bond Street of Bury."

With clean, fresh walls and colourful art work by Vernon Rose and Markus Hartel, Mr Walton has transformed the bookstore into a light, airy gallery in just three weeks.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have your say on this article - scroll to the top of the story and click on 'comment' or email the editor with your views.

Click here to go back to our news index.