THE Mayor of Bury has cut the first sod to signal the start of work on a £3.7 million military museum.

There are now 18 months of work ahead to create the Fusiliers' Museum in Sparrow Park. The main facility will be housed in the former Arts and Craft Centre in Broad Street and will chronicle the Fusiliers' 300-year history, as well as showing how Bury as developed as a town over the same period.

The building will feature a new extension to Moss Street.

Mayor, Coun Farook Chaudhry was joined by the museum's project leader Colonel Brian Gorski and the leader of Bury Council, Councillor Bob Bibby, at last Friday's ceremony.

The war memorial at the Fusiliers' existing museum at Wellington Barracks in Bolton Road, Elton, will be transferred to Sparrow Park as part of the project.

Speaking at the ceremony, Coun Bob Bibby, said the new Fusiliers' Museum would help the public appreciate the historical links between the Fusiliers and Bury. He said: "This is the most important and exciting cultural development to take place in Bury. The museum will play an important part in teaching our young people about the regiment and how its history has been a part of the town's heritage."

Colonel Brian Gorski, the museum's fundraising manager, added: "This project is going to totally invigorate the tourist attractions not just in Bury but across the North West."

Contractors Anelays moved on to the site on Monday. The museum and regimental headquarters is expected to be opened formally on Gallipoli Day - April 25 - in 2009.