BOLTON health chiefs are to go into partnership with a developer to build a series of modern health super centres,0 to replace rundown GPs' surgeries.

The Eric Wright Group will build the centres and then lease them back to the Primary Care Trust.

Work has already started on the £11 million Breightmet Primary Care Trust Resource Centre, formerly the Alistair Ross health centre, which will open next year.

Tim Evans, interim chief executive for Bolton Primary Care Trust, said: "The Breightmet Resource Centre is a significant development in an area of Bolton which really needs investment both in health services and other services."

A £64 million programme had been drawn-up to build the super centres across Bolton, but the PCT is reviewing the plans as they were made in 2003 and and are now outdated.

The super centres, which will include a diagnostic centre, will still be built - but where and how much they will cost is still to be decided.

They will offer a range of services currently only available of the Royal Bolton Hospital, including X-rays and blood tests, scans and the management of chronic conditions.

Health bosses say the new health centres will slash waiting times and raise life expectancy in Bolton.

In the most deprived areas of the borough, the average life expectancy can be just 67.5 years, as opposed to 82.1 years for those in more affluent areas of the town.

A report found that those with the lowest life expectancy live in Halliwell, Tonge, Breightmet, Derby, Burnden, Daubhill, Harper Green, Farnworth, Kearsley and what was Central ward.

Residents of Hulton Park, Bromley Cross and Bradshaw, the more affluent wards, have the highest life expectancy.

The PCT is in the process of asking people affected by the proposals - such as GPs, the Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton Council, the ambulance service and patient forums - for their opinion on the scheme and a final decision is expected in autumn.

Work is already underway on the Crompton Way Health Centre, in Crompton Way, which will cost £9 million, and the Water's Meeting health Centre, costing £5 million, will not be affected as they are being built under a separate scheme.

They are both expected to be completed by the end of the year.