THERE is a very different look to Bank Park.

The town’s famous Golden Gates have almost completely been removed as part of renovation works on the historic site.

Work started last month to begin to take the gates apart after problems were noted with parts coming lose a couple of years ago.

Councillors agreed to a £500,000 programme of works to bring the gates back to their former glory and they will be back in place in time for Warrington Walking Day next year.

The gates were originally intended as a gift for Queen Victoria before being purchased for the town by councillor Frederick Monks.

The Queen turned them down for her Sandringham royal estate because the creator of the Grade II listed gates had also made a sculpture of arch anti-royalist Oliver Cromwell.

His statue also still stands in the town – in front of the empty Academy building.

The previous refurbishment of the gates was carried out in 1978-79.