The lost M61 service station that was once branded the worst in the country - but it had a big claim to fame

Service stations are often functional, if unremarkable, stop offs to break up a long motorway journey. There are, of course, exceptions - particularly in the north west.

Although no longer in use, the abandoned UFO structure that was once part of Forton Service on the M6 has been a striking motorway landmark for decades. Also on the M6 there's Tebay Services in Cumbria - a motorway stop off named the best in the UK that boasts a duck pond, farm shop, and outdoor terrace.

Meanwhile, another, now demolished service station had quite a chequered history - but it did have one big claim to fame. The original Bolton West services was built in 1971 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II later that year in front of a crowd of thousands - the same day she opened the Pennine section of the M62.

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Situated between junctions six and eight of the M61 (mysteriously there is no junction seven on the M61), it was originally opened as Anderton services. According to the weirdly fascinating website, Motorways Services Online, the services contained a shop, a fast food unit, two further retail units and a cafeteria at the back.

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There was also a small arcade and designated area with telephones. But learning lessons from previous service stations, the car park they built was huge with approximately room for 200 HGVs - more than any other service area in the country at the time.

After being sold to Top Rank and then Pavillion, it was renamed Rivington services in 1992, before being