COMMUNITY groups are being invited to come forward with ideas on how to spend a lottery windfall of more than £1.33 million.

Bolton is one of just 13 places in the North West to win money in the first funding round of an initiative designed to produce cleaner, greener and healthier environments in deprived areas.

Under the 'Transform Your Space' programme, projects will be focused in disadvantaged areas -- although the council is keen to stress that these areas could be pockets of deprivation within otherwise affluent parts of the borough.

Projects could include improving footpaths; sprucing up run-down community centres and developing community transport to improve access to parks and woodlands.

A total of £1,330,127 has been awarded to Bolton's Local Strategic Partnership -- including the council, the business community and the voluntary sector -- in a lottery scheme to channel money to areas which have not had their fair share.

Cllr Frank White, Bolton Council's executive member for social inclusion and community safety, praised the town's MPs for pushing for more lottery funding.

He said: "They should be congratulated for raising the issue.

"This funding is another opportunity for local communities to get together and come up with projects which will help them improve their areas."

A final list of projects will be drawn up by June.

Grants of between £100,000 and £300,000 will be available, but smaller bids will be accepted.

Potential projects must:

Involve local communities

Offer opportunities for improving job prospects and skills

Have long term benefits.

A series of events will be held to inform Bolton groups about the bidding process.