CHORLEY'S local arts scene is thriving and expanding so much so that the Chorley and District Arts Association are announcing drastic changes to their way of operating after 25 years of promoting arts in the borough.

New plans will be announced at the association's annual general meeting on Wednesday November 1 at Astley Hall.

The Association have supported local professional artists to run workshops and performances, including Charlie Holt and Lindsey Jones.

In addition the Arts Association have had recent success in arranging several successful projects including the lottery-funded Sugerbeat project, the Arts in Hospital programme at Chorley Hospital and the revival of parish maps for each village.

The new plans will include widening its remit, says chair of the Arts Association Joyce Morris, to target low income neighbourhoods and work with nearby boroughs.

Councillor Tom McGowan, Chorley's mayor, will be attending to AGM to thank voluntary Arts Groups for their help over the last 25 years in contributing to the cultural hub of the borough.

And to highlight Chorley's recent success, a new play performed at this summer's Millennium Midsummer Festival is now about to be performed professionally at Manchester's Opera House -- with actors from Channel 4's Brookside.

'Give Me One Good Season', a new play about football written by Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket, was first performed by Runshaw College students.

Jimmy Cricket, said: "I'm grateful to the Council's Sports, Arts and Community Development Unit for setting up the project and getting the college to try out my work -- now they have been rewarded with a professional show."

Brookside actors Claire Sweeney and Vince Earl will be performing in Cricket's show at Manchester's Operas House in December.