in the mid-1980s bands travelling between Manchester and Liverpool often stopped at the services and the site became an autograph hunters' hub.

It was built on part of the 13 mile South Lancashire Motorway section of M62 from Tar bock to Risley - the 100 acre Croft Interchange.

Thousands of tonnes of peat had to be excavated from Risley Mosslands, and deep stone dams were built.

Earthmoving machines had to work on timber rafts, over the peat; the motorway section opened 30 November 1973.

From July 2014 a new pub/restaurant operated by the Marston's Inns and Taverns chain called the Skymaster has opened.