A HUGE modernisation project is to change the face of the borough's sports centres, according to the man chosen to head the £18 million revamp.

Sheldon Phillips promised a "new era" for ailing leisure centres as work was due to begin on renovating sports halls and changing rooms, as well as installing the state-of-the art equipment.

Reception areas and cafeterias also be given a facelift thanks to a partnership between the council and the private firm Serco, which will take care of the day-to-day running of centres.

Mr Phillips, former regional director of Sport England, has been appointed chairman of a new board of trustees which will be responsible for bringing leisure centres into the 21st century.

He said: "This is the start of a new era in the provision of sport and leisure services for the people of Bolton and the new arrangements will lead to improved services and much-needed increased investment in existing sports facilities."

The renovation will begin with centres in Horwich and Farnworth, both of which are deemed desperate for improvement. Work is then expected to start on the 10 remaining centres -- Westhoughton, Deane, Turton, Sharples, Kearsley, Hayward, Little Lever, Harper Green, Withins and the town centre-based Excel centre.

It is hoped that, as a charitable trust, the board will also bring significant financial benefits and be eligible for a number of Government grants. Other trustees include: Richard Saunders, chief executive of Greater Sport; Robert Atkinson, headteacher at St James Secondary School in Bolton; Alison Hill of Bolton CVS; and Cllr Anthony Connell, of Bolton Council.

Jan Hutchinson, director of public health at Bolton Primary Care Trust, has also been appointed to the board, as have John Waters, chairman of Bolton's strategic cultural partnership; and Laura Nuttall, director of the Hargreaves Hamilton Group.

A council said: "With trustees coming from such a wide range of backgrounds and organisations, the local authority is confident it can develop the service and assure quality, accessibility and increase new provision."