BOLTON School has received an unexpected boost to its Bursary Fund of more than £280,000 in a legacy from a local benefactor.

The Bursary Fund was set up after the Assisted Places scheme ceased, to enable bright pupils from the area, whose parents could not afford the fees, to attend the fee paying school.

Under the Government scheme, almost one-third of pupils at the school were non-fee paying, with 78 children in each new intake receiving financial support.

Over the past few years the school has been funding bursaries entirely from its own funds. New headmaster, Mervyn Brooker, is determined to increase the number of bursaries available to local children.

The surprise legacy was left to the school by Arthur Blackman, who settled in Ladybridge after spending several years in the Navy.

Mr Brooker said: "The legacy from Mr Blackman is wonderful news for bright youngsters from this area. It is just the boost we need. The governors have been working hard to raise more funds for bursaries. We are determined that Bolton School, which was set up by local benefactors as a centre of excellence for the town, should remain accessible to all.

"Many local companies have also supported the Bursary Fund, believing that Bolton School is a great asset to the town.

"For the past four years, the Bursary Fund has been supported by the Ogden Trust, set up with £25m by Rochdale millionaire, Peter Ogden, to provide bursaries at Independent schools.

"When the scheme began, the Girls Division was one of only 10 independent schools in the country to be offered funding."

Donor Mr Blackman and his wife Lily had no children of their own. When Lily died, Mr Blackman decided to leave his estate to Bolton School so that a bursary could be set up in her name. He was influenced in his decision by the son of one of his neighbours who had a bursary to go to Bolton School.

Freda Hulme, one of Mr Blackman's neighbours, said: "They were both very helpful people. He was the sort of person who would want to help young people get on in life."