EYESORE areas across Bolton are to be transformed in a bid to stamp out deprivation.

Many of the borough's green and urban areas that have fallen into decline will be reclaimed and grot spots which blight the borough will be tidied up.

Village green areas will be revamped, community gardens look set to be created and disused urban land will be landscaped.

A total of £1,330,127 has been earmarked for the ambitious project.

The areas that will benefit from the money will be decided next year. It is believed central Bolton, Halliwell, Tonge, Derby, Burnden, Harper Green, Farnworth and Breightmet top the list, but other areas will be considered.

And council bosses are confident it will go some way to reversing the flagging fortunes of Bolton's 20 districts -- eight of which are among the most deprived 11 per cent in England. Although council chiefs are keen to stress the cash will not sort out every grot spot in the borough, they say the money will go some way to putting right the worst examples of deprivation.

A town hall spokesman said: "To sort the entire borough out would cost many millions but we hope to start the ball rolling, identify the areas of most need and tackle them."

Work will take place to improve public spaces, derelict sites and local eyesores in residential areas by planting trees, clearing debris or laying down new paving.

Wildlife and woodland areas, public parks, gardens and play spaces will also be looked after. Money will be spent on establishing village green areas, allotment gardens and on developing community uses for school grounds.

Community centres and village halls would also be refurbished.

At the same time, Bolton Council hopes the scheme will create jobs and opportunities for training.

Labour councillor James Lord believes his Farnworth constituents would welcome the initiative with open arms. He said: "The £1.3 million is needed for Farnworth alone because it's one of the most deprived areas in the country.

"Schemes to sort out the derelict open spaces in Farnworth and across Bolton would help to stop the spiral of decline. "There are proud people in the borough who clean-up and look after their environment but with money behind them they can do so much more."

The plans form part of the Transform Your Space initiative set up by local authority chiefs to breathe new life into tired districts.

Community groups and voluntary agencies are to be invited to express interest in pushing ahead with a project.

A panel of town hall officers will consider the plans and create a short-list of schemes once they are given the green light. Work on identifying the projects will start around October 2003.

The money will come from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund which targets local authorities that have not received their fair share of lottery cash.

Bolton Council has been allocated £1,330,127 and now has to apply for access to the fund. Lottery chiefs will decide whether the Transform Your Space project is a suitable venture by the end of January 2003. If they believe it is, the money will be in place by the autumn.