AN imaginative new centre to encourage the creative talents of Bolton's artistic community has opened.

Twelve apartments designed to allow the town's artists, artisans and other home workers to live and work at home were officially unveiled yesterday.

It is the first Live/Work development of its kind in the North-west.

The apartments at Palace Court, Palace Street, on the edge of the town centre, incorporate a studio and a living area that allow residents to run their businesses from home.

The £900,000 project, set up by the St Vincent's Housing Association with support by Bolton Council's Percentage For Arts Team, will bring together a rich vein of talent from the town's arts scene.

Conceptual artist Tabitha Sims, who has just moved into one of the apartments, said: "The new apartments will provide an invaluable living space for Bolton's artists. It will make the artists' work so much easier with the built-in studios, allowing them to live and work at home." The work of artists like Tabitha will be displayed in the corridors of the centre.

A spokesman for the housing association, said: "The apartments have already made such a difference to the local community, particularly among the artists and artisans.

"People are excited by these new apartments because it's the first live-and-work development in the North-west. People want to look at the apartments and see if the scheme can be replicated in other parts of the region.

The impressive railings surrounding Palace Court were designed by former Percentage For Arts artist Tom Grimsy, who designed imaginative "doughnuts and jelly tots" sculptured railings.

Creative industries that will take place in the new centre include conceptual painting, fine art, music, alternative therapies, and film making.

The Percentage for Arts team's involvement in the scheme included a "light-box" project that will be on permanent display in the Foyer of Palace Court and a film of yesterday's launch, with interviews with residents and guests to the opening ceremony.

RINGSIDE SEAT: Conceptual artist Tabitha Sims with the 'doughnuts and jelly tots' sculpture outside Palace Court designed by Tom Grimsy