A VICAR has called on the Government to help save Bolton's history by improving and increasing heritage grants.

The Reverend Ray Coward, vicar of St James' Church in Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, spoke after the BEN revealed high levels of decay at 30 of Bolton's 600 listed buildings.

The 120-year-old church in Lower Leigh Road has seen £300,000 spent on essential repairs over the past seven years. One third of the sum has been raised by parishioners.

The grade 2-1 listed building now needs a further £300,000 to safeguard its future and the Rev Coward has called on the Government to help. He said many more listed buildings in Bolton should benefit from increased heritage grants.

Mr Coward, aged 60, said: "This place has been saved by the local people and the reality is that they are forced to dig into their pockets if they want a church here in Daisy Hill."

"The building is safe but it now needs another £300,000 spending on it. I have done nothing else but try to secure this building since I arrived nine years ago.

"Looking after this building is a hard job, I can tell you. Obviously the Council has no money, it all comes from the tax-payer's pocket. The bulk of the money has been raised by the people of Daisy Hill.

"More should be done by the Council to try and get us, and many of the other buildings in Bolton, more grants. It should not just be the people that get us through."

As reported, Bolton Council is developing an action plan to help owners of listed buildings keep them maintained, and secure from the elements.

Buildings currently placed "at risk" include, Seddons Fold Farm, Kearsley; Holy Trinity Church in Trinity Street; Falcon Mill in Handel Street, Halliwell and Gilnow Mill in Spa Road.

An historic cottage behind Smithills Coaching House will be demolished because it has been deemed beyond repair. Bolton Council says the situation should never arise again.

Now Council chiefs hope to attract developers to convert the "at risk" buildings through a series of planning briefs.

Bolton Council's historic buildings officer Richard Cowley said: "We can also talk to owners and put them in touch with national funding agencies and developers - but we do not have a budget to help them financially."

Deputy Leader of Bolton's Conservative Party, Cllr John Walsh, has called for the Council to offer short term funding or loans.

Mr Coward added: "Our money has not gone on anything fancy - just maintaining the building for the future.

"Local people and schools use it. It is not a museum and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

"The whole community rallies around because it is a beautiful building and the people want it here. But we should be given more help."