work will officially start on a £1.8 million restoration of Smithills Hall next week.

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, will launch the project at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

Three rooms will be re-created as part of the project to turn the hall into a major tourist attraction.

The hope is that the new look hall could be open to visitors by the summer.

The scheme, which is being part funded by a European Regional Development Fund grant, will involve restoring the white drawing room, the green hall and the library to their former Victorian splendour.

But council chiefs are hoping it will be the first phase of a long-term project to attract Lottery funding.

The council had originally been hoping to carry out a £3.6 million scheme to create a major regional attraction but it was turned down by heritage lottery officials who wanted a scheme based on Smithills' history. The present work has been part-funded by a European Regional Development fund grant but leisure chiefs are now working on a new lottery grant bid.

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