A LOCAL government watchdog received 37 complaints about Bolton Council last year, it has been revealed. Local Government Ombudsman Patricia Thomas's annual report says the number of complaints was down by four on the year 2000.

Mrs Thomas, who investigates maladministration, found that the council had done nothing wrong in 15 of the 37 cases.

She decided not to deal with seven of the complaints and six of them were outside her jurisdiction.

However nine of the complaints were upheld and the council reached separate settlements with the complainants.

Mrs Thomas said: "I am always greatly heartened when my department is able to make a difference to the lives of members of the public or to the effectiveness of local councils."

Mrs Thomas's department dealt with more than 7,000 complaints across the North of England during 2001.