POWER over Bolton's council estates has been handed to the people for the first time.

More than 5,200 residents returned ballot papers to elect eight of their neighbours on to two boards which will decide how £250 million of Government funding will be spent to improve council properties.

A champion ballroom dancer, a former army commanding officer and a great-grandmother of 14 were among the tenants chosen to sit on each board, set up to manage the project in two zones, Bolton North and Bolton South.

Many of the 20 candidates waited anxiously for more than two-and-a-half hours at Bolton Town Hall as the votes were counted. The response, by almost a third of the electorate, was hailed as a triumph by Noel Spencer, chairman of Bolton at Home, which will manage the scheme.

The turnout at last year's council election, which was open to all Bolton residents, was just 12 per cent more.

Cllr Spencer said: "This gives the tenants elected a real mandate to represent their communities. Hopefully, it will signal a greater involvement of the community with the organisation and the enormous changes that will be made to their communities in the future."

Bolton at Home has been established as an independent organisation to oversee the regeneration of estates, bankrolled by Government funding of £50 million a year until 2008. Councillors and independent community representatives with a background in housing, business or civic matters will fill the other 11 position on each board.

The funding will only be made available if the council's housing department is awarded two or more stars in the Audit Commission's Best Value Review.

Veronica Adams, Julie Pattison, James Woodrow and Eric Hope were elected to the southern board while Jean Bates, Bob Hughes, Paul Perry and Doris Howeth made it on to the northern committee.

More than 26,000 voting forms were sent to Council homes and tenants were asked to name the four tenants they wished to elect to their district board.

Elected in Bolton South

Veronica Adams, aged 57, of Tennyson Road, a housewife who has lived in Farnworth for 15 years.

She was elected with 1,395 votes.

She said: "I know what tenants want from this project and I know the standards they expect. I will be here to make sure we take the opportunity to transform our council estates into something Bolton can be proud of."

Julie Pattison, of Howard Avenue, Kearsley, received 1,120 votes.

She said: "I have an understanding of tenant and social issues and I have worked in the Bolton area for many years." I feel that I could not only relate to certain issues but also voice what tenants need."

James Woodrow, aged 60, of Wareing Way, served for two-and-a-half years on Britain's first arms length housing management organisation in London, from 1986. He returned to his home town of Bolton 13 years ago. He received 830 votes. The retired railway guard said: "My experience in London has shown me that people can manage their estates when they are given the power.

Eric Hope, of Merton Close, picked up 827 votes. Mr Hope, a retired engineer in his seventies, has been teaching ballroom dancing for over 50 years.

He said: "I believe council estates should be transformed into desirable places to live.

Elected in Bolton North

Jean Bates, of Garstang Avenue, Crompton Fold, attracted 1,949 votes.

She said: "I understand a lot of the problems tenants can and do have. I have a family of four daughters and a disabled husband, so I am familiar with a lot of problems that occur for families with a disabled or elderly members." If anyone needs help, I will be there."

Robert Hughes, of Brunswick Avenue, Horwich, received 1,324 votes. He is a retired commanding officer with the British Army and founded the Brazley Residents Association.

Mr Hughes said: "I wanted to put something back into the community. I have had a lot of different experiences in different roles which I think I can bring to the board."

Paul Perry, aged 62, of Cartmel Crescent, hopes to use his election victory as a platform to win back his place on the council. He received 963 votes.

He said: "I feel that all decisions should be taken by the group as a whole and not only by the councillors."

Doris Howeth, aged 68, of Chronnell Drive, has 14 great-grandchildren. A retired civil servant, she has spent eight years working in Holland and received 954 votes.

She said: "It will be nice to start taking an active part in the changes that are going to have such a huge effect in our communities. I am not here to sit back and listen to what other people have to say."