A NEW arts and culture project for people of all ages is being started this week on Atherton's Hag Fold Estate.

'Recreate' aims to give new opportunities for local people to take part in arts, sports, play, health and environmental activities.

The Dorset Road Community Centre will host a week of taster sessions, starting today, with young people's activities including soccer, softball and tag rugby.

Tomorrow sport makes way for mosaic making and drop-in arts and crafts session in the morning, followed by Jungle Fun with stories and rhymes for under fives and carers in the afternoon.

There will also be a beginners' circuit class, Activate, held tomorrow afternoon to encourage interest in physical exercise.

Wigan Council's new arts development officer, Angela Chappell, said: "There's going to be a lot happening at Dorset Road over the coming months and I would urge local people to come along and see what's in it for them.

"We will be asking people about their ideas and aspirations, as well as giving them a chance to try all kinds of different activities, and I am sure this project can make a real contribution to the regeneration of Hag Fold."

Recreate has been funded through the £6 million Atherton: Building Communities programme, and has received additional support from North West Arts Board and Wigan Council.

The Atherton: Building Communities programme has secured £5.95 million from the Single Regeneration Budget to be used from autumn 1999 to March 2006.

However, that figure is expected to grow to as much as £20 million, as the programme will be linked with other investments from public and private agencies to create a comprehensive approach to tackling the area's problems over the next six years.