SHOPPERS tripping over pavements and potholes in Bolton town centre have cost council chiefs more than £430,000.

The money has been paid out in compensation over the last seven years.

Great Moor Street is the area where the most money has been paid out, £95,276.

The other streets surveyed since 1992 are Deansgate, £89,167 paid out; Newport Street, £65,615; Blackhorse Street, £50,615; Bradshawgate, £44,162; Bridge Street, £36,062 and Knowsley Street, £51,714.

Council bosses are striving to improve the inspection and rapid repair regime to cut down on claims and the number of claims has dropped from 48 in 1997 to 19 in 1998. Nationally, the law is also being tightened up to make it more difficult for people to make claims, with a time limit being brought in for the public to take action.

Mr David Houghton, group manager in Bolton Council's environmental management department, said: "It is a national problem.

"We will be looking very closely at this and taking action to improve the way we handle claims and carry out inspections.

"These streets represent the heaviest footfalls in Bolton where thousands and thousands of people walk across every day and the potential for someone having a trip is greater than elsewhere.

"If we have a claim and someone has proof of injury, then we take it as being an honest and truthful claim.

"We will inspect the depth of trip and if it is above a certain height, then we will pay compensation.

"If it is not, then we will challenge it and claims do sometimes go to court."

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