BALLOT papers have been sent to 22,000 council homes as town hall chiefs prepare to give more power to the people as part of a £250 million plan to rejuvenate Bolton's estates.

Tenants will be elected to two area boards which will decide how the biggest single investment in Bolton's history will be spent.

An independent organisation, Bolton at Home, has been established by the council to oversee the regeneration of estates which will be bankrolled by Government funding of £50 million a year until 2008.

Four tenants will sit on each board, set up to manage the project in two zones, Bolton North and Bolton South.

Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth said it was vital tenants took the chance to have a say in their future.

He said: "This scheme will bring considerable improvements to life on Bolton's council estates.

"It is a massive programme and will be the driving force behind the modernisation of council properties. We want tenants to turn out in force to decide who is going to represent them."

In total, around 26 residents hope to be elected to serve terms of two or three years. Councillors and independent representatives with a background in housing, business or civic matters will make up the other 11 positions on each board. The closing date for the postal vote is noon on Monday, March 3.

The Bolton North board will cover areas north of Prince Street in the town centre, including Horwich and Blackrod, while areas such as Great Lever and Westhoughton will fall into the southern zone.

Bolton at Home was established last year but 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.

Cllr Noel Spencer, Bolton at Home chairman, who is confident of success, said: "We hope this will be the biggest change to the way council properties are run that Bolton has seen."

"For years we have wanted to give power to council tenants to decide how their estates are managed. It is a chance for people to really make a difference in their neighbourhoods."