NEIGHBOURS living near a planned £3 million housing development on the site of a Bolton grotspot were today given their first glimpse of how it would look.

Derelict land behind Nortex Mill in Marsh Lane Fold, Halliwell, has turned into a blot on the landscape after becoming a favourite with fly tippers.

Halliwell councillor Linda Thomas believes efforts to regenerate the whole area have been undermined by the problems associated with the eyesore.

But she is optimistic that a 35-home development by North British Housing Association (NBHA) will play a crucial role in rescuing the area from decline. She said: "Marsh Lane Fold was bringing the whole area down and we feel that this scheme will be the catalyst for regenerating this area.

"The residents have been desperate for us to do something with this land."

Artists' impressions of the development, which features mainly semi-detached houses with some bungalows, were due to go on show at Victory Community Centre off Chorley Old Road today from 2pm until 7pm.

John Wright, NBHA development services manager for Bolton, said: "There's been quite a lot of positive local interest in the scheme and we are keen to let the residents see what we are doing.

"We are pleasantly surprised that there's been this degree of reaction."

Mrs Thomas said she was particularly pleased that the council's concerns to create mixed houses had been addressed.

She said that there had been fears of too many two-bedroomed homes. Now there will be more large houses with up to four bedrooms.

"We feel that we have been instrumental in suggesting the type of housing that has been chosen to meet housing need," said Cllr Thomas.

"When you look at the waiting list for council housing, there is a large number of families on it. Halliwell is quite a popular area for families but most of the accommodation is two-bedroomed terraces which aren't suitable."