COUNCIL leader Bob Howarth has admitted Bolton is one of the country's most deprived areas.

Speaking after new figures put the town 43 out of 354 in a local authority deprivation league, the Labour councillor said: "Industrial decline cannot be turned around over 10 or 20 years."

The cause of deprivation has been blamed on the fall of the textile industry on which much of Bolton's wealth was built.

And some analysts, including Bolton MP David Crausby, say the figures indicate a North-South divide.

Cllr Howarth said: "It's a problem all the former industrial areas in the area have suffered and we have done reasonably well in pulling things around.

"The prosperous areas of Cheshire and the south have continued to pull ahead despite our best efforts, though, so the gap is still there."

The South-east is tipped to experience stronger economic growth than the north of England over the next decade -- a prediction that looks set to escalate the problem.

It appears the south has responded better to the reduction of manufacturing and the take-up of service industries.

But it has left the industrial heartlands of the North struggling to reverse their flagging fortunes.

Mr Howarth added: "Bolton, together with many towns in the North, has suffered a decline since the 1970s although we have succeeded in encouraging regeneration and redevelopment.

"Unemployment has risen but there have been many new schemes created in the town which have created jobs.

"Unfortunately these are mainly in leisure industries where the wages tend to be lower than in the industries they displaced."

He highlighted the town's success in creating the Middlebrook complex with Bolton Arena and the Reebok Stadium and said the Market Hall, the Water Place, the regeneration of Tonge Valley and the work to turn around Farnworth, Deane, Derby and Daubhill were signs that attempts had been made to halt the decline.

The deprivation table took into account 33 indicators which included low income, unemployment and poor health. Middlebrook Retail Park THE controversial multi-million pound scheme has been accused of shifting attention away from Bolton to Horwich.

But the scheme has undoubtedly been a success with millions of visitors each year.

The centrepiece of the whole development is the futuristic Reebok Stadium which became the new home of Bolton Wanderers.

The club's move to Horwich meant the site of their Burnden Park ground became a derelict ruin but this is due to be redeveloped. A new home for tennis, Bolton Arena, is also being built making Middlebrook one of the jewels in a rejuvenated Bolton crown. The Water Place A SWIMMING pool with a difference -- lots of slides and fun activities -- became a focus for school trips across the area when it was built.

It is still a popular centre but it has recently looked a little run down.

Plans have been put forward to spruce up the centre, creating a water mecca for the future. Market Hall ITS glass lifts, big name stores and specialist stalls and cafes have continually made the Market Hall a focal point of the town centre.

The building is seen as a prime example of how an indoor shopping centre can enhance and complement a town.

It attracts thousands of people to Bolton each year and is currently more than keeping up in its fight against the Trafford Centre. Deane, Derby and Daubhill CASH from the Government's single regeneration budget was poured into Deane, Derby and Daubhill over four years from 1995.

It followed a successful £11.8 million Challenge Fund bid.

A number of official bodies formed the 3Ds Partnership which helped to create more than 750 jobs.

It also supported 150 business start-ups and improved more than 1,400 private houses.