BOLTON Council is struggling to meet the Government's energy-saving targets, claims a Euro MP.

Local authorities have been told to ensure household energy efficiency levels are raised by two per cent every year, said Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies.

Bolton is one of 35 councils in the North-west failing to meet the target, he says.

Councils should have achieved a 14 per cent improvement in energy saving compared to 1996, but Bolton has only achieved 11.7 per cent.

Mr Davies said: "The Government should speed up the pace by replacing voluntary targets with legally binding requirements and by offering financial rewards to those ahead of schedule."

A council spokesman said: "We aim to reduce consumption of energy and water by 10 per cent in our buildings, and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2005.

"We also plan to invest in schemes such as wind power and solar and ground source heat pumps."