The 'fantastic' town where people move out but always come back

On a balmy May afternoon, a St George's flag flutters in the breeze above St Katharine's Church in Blackrod.

In the distance, the needle of the Winter Hill TV mast pricks the cloudless sky. Down in the valley below, cars glisten in the sun as they zoom along the M61 motorway between Manchester and Preston.

The striking landscape is one that locals in this small town, on the outskirts of Bolton, do not take for granted.

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"The views are just spectacular," said Stephen Kemp, 66. "On a clear day, you can see all the way up to Blackpool Tower and the Lake District."

While the views may be breathtaking, it is not the only reason why Blackrod is becoming an increasingly popular destination for families.

"It's a fantastic place to live," said Mr Kemp. "It's very quiet and everybody is friendly.

"It's like a country village on a bigger scale."

Situated high on a hill four miles north of Wigan and six miles west of Bolton, Blackrod was once a major coal mining centre. By the 1930s, the pits had shut, including Scot Lane Colliery, which employed more than 700 miners.

Historically in Lancashire, Blackrod became part of the wider Bolton borough during the local government shake up of 1974. Today, it is home to more than 5,000 people - many of whom commute to work in neighbouring towns.

Blackrod's location, transport links - Manchester city centre is just half an hour away by train - and cheap house prices have made it a popular spot for families in recent years.

Pauline Moore has lived in the town her entire life and proudly declares herself one of the 'old Blackrod people'. She grew up on a farm in the town and has run Blackrod Motor