SHOPPERS and visitors to Bolton will be asked for their views on spending three quarters of a million pounds this week.

As part of Local Democracy Week, which runs from today until Friday, Bolton Council's Area Co-ordinators will be out and about on Victoria Square drumming up interest in the Borough's Area Forums and encouraging people to have their say.

As reported in the BEN, six areas have just received a £750,000 boost from the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to improve local services and the area co-ordinators are keen to hear from as many people as possible as to how the money should be spent.

Balloons, furry bugs, leaflets and posters will be used to attract people to a trailer in the square so that they can complete a survey and questionnaire about what they see the needs of their areas are.

The week will also see local sixth formers taking part in a debate with councillors in the council chamber in the town hall tomorrow.

The students will be debating the motion "Should the British Government introduce a compulsory identity card for all UK citizens?"

Cllr Bob Howarth ,leader of Bolton Council said: "It's important that local people get their views heard about services and Local Democracy Week is an important way of getting them interested in what goes on in the Town Hall."

"Most people probably do not appreciate that what we do encompasses their whole life from birth to passing away and therefore they should take a very keen interest in Local Government."