A new 3D interactive tool has revealed the geological secrets hidden beneath Warrington.

This information is becoming increasingly important due to the pressures from housing, transport, utility infrastructure, and the need to optimise natural resources such as groundwater and heat.

The tool, BGS GeoIndex Onshore, was launched in 2021 and is free for public use.

It already includes conceptual models of London and the Thames Valley, Cardiff, and the greater Glasgow region.

Now, it has added a 3D characterisation of the rocks and deposits beneath Liverpool and Warrington.

This data, crucial for understanding the geology of the area, assists various sectors in their urban planning.

Liverpool and Warrington on the BGS GeoIndex Onshore tool (Image: Ricky Terrington - BGS) For instance, it helps local authorities and engineering consultancies manage groundwater and identify potential geological resources such as geothermal energy.

Ricky Terrington, Geospatial Data and Technologies Lead at BGS, said: "The BGS are striving to synthesise all the 3D geological model stock it holds into easily accessible and usable information.

"We hope that by providing this data, users can get an appreciation of the types of soil and rocks they live on and work with."

The tool provides a 3D characterisation of the rocks and deposits beneath the areas.

This makes up the upper tens to hundreds of metres of the below ground.

This data is vital in understanding where certain types of geology are located, and can assist different sectors in their planning within urban areas.