A GRANT of £500,000 has been given to Westhoughton Learning Centre to build an extension.

The money will mean that the centre in Central Drive will have new classrooms, information technology suites, offices and a creche in time for the start of a new range of adult learning courses in September.

The centre's capacity rise from 850 adult students a week using the cramped former school building to 3,500. Courses will range from walking to aromatherapy and psychology.

The grant from the Learning Skills Council will make the unit, owned by Bolton Community College, one of the best equipped in the area.

Centre manager Janet Colley said: "This is a very exciting time for everyone connected to the centre.

"It's going to allow us to take on a lot more students and offer a wider range of courses. We're growing all the time and we can offer the opportunity to anyone in the area who wants to come and learn. We hope that people will be willing to come and take up the challenge."