Spotlight on Boothstown

WHERE: Boothstown, the slightly more affordable neighbour of up-market Worsley, is about eight miles from Manchester city centre. Just off junction 13 of the M60, it runs alongside the Bridgewater Canal.

WHY: Originally a quaint village with a handful of cottages, Boothstown was home to the families of miners and 19th century industrialists whose trade relied on the Bridgewater Canal.

It was mainly undeveloped until after the Second World War, and really started to expand only in the 1970s when a number of big residential developments began to spring up.

However, a nature reserve running down to the canal has meant there is still some open space in the area and period properties do crop up from time to time.

It is popular with families and first-time buyers who might find nearby Worsley a bit on the pricey side. And it is becoming gradually more popular with professionals looking for a small pad to commute to the city centre.

There is a selection of busy restaurants, pubs, and shops in the area, with more amenities up the road in Walkden. The canal and the marina are also popular, particularly on a warm summer evening.

TRANSPORT: Although Boothstown is easy to find off the motorway, it is just off the notorious junction 13 which has become a congestion black-spot over recent years and can see long delays.

No Metrolink in this part of Salford, leaving a 15-minute drive to Manchester on the East Lancs or longer at peak times. But if you try your luck on the motorway it is only a short drive to the Trafford Centre or on the M62 to Liverpool and Warrington.

AGENT'S VIEW: Barry Knox, of Owen Knox Estates, said: "Boothstown wasn't that big an area until after World War II.

"There have been a number of developments there in more recent years. Buyers particularly like the marina and the Boothstown Basin and there is a lot of open land by the canal.

"It's convenient for the motorways which helps to make it a popular area. A lot of people move there because of the modern developments, which there aren't many of in Worsley. However, it still isn't cheap."

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