A FARNWORTH school and hospital bosses have joined forces to launch a £15 million pound lottery bid to build a new sports and arts centre. Mount St Joseph School and Bolton Hospitals Trust are working together to secure the cash for the ambitious scheme. Planners are still in the early stages of drawing up the bid for a centre of sporting and cultural excellence on land between Mount St Joseph School and the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But if funding is secured, the centre would comprise of a sports hall, swimming pool, multi purpose rooms which could be used by the school, hospital staff, patients and the local community at large.

At the heart of the scheme is the desire to include extensive facilities for the disabled.

Mrs Elaine Nagle, project officer and a teacher at Mount St Joseph School, said hopes were high that the scheme would benefit the whole of the community.

She said: "Between the school and the hospital, we have come up with an idea which can promote both health and education through sport and arts in the most enjoyable and useful way."

Once all the research work is completed, the main players behind the scheme will submit a bid for funding to the National Lottery and outline planning permission will be sought.

Members of disabled sports clubs/organisations who want to learn more or contribute to the discussions around the scheme should contact Mrs Nagle at Mount St Joseph School on Bolton 391800 after April 20.

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