ANGRY Bolton residents have blasted television producers who painted a grim picture of the town in a prime-time show.

BEN readers say the popular programme, Kavanagh QC starring John Thaw, depicted the town as a slum.

And bashful bosses at London-based Carlton Television have admitted that NONE of the location shots had actually been filmed in Bolton.

Instead the grim pictures were filmed in and around Manchester close to the Longsight area.

The legal drama's plot focused on Kavanagh's defence of a young Bolton couple who had been accused of murdering their 14-month-old baby daughter. The barrister had travelled back to his home town - Bolton - for the case.

But residents were outraged when the show featured dingy high rise tenement blocks over-shadowing houses.

Martin Mulroney, 28, of Garstang Avenue, Breightmet, claimed television bosses had painted a false image of the town.

He said: "The programme was atrocious. I was offended by the picture it painted of my home town.

"I can't understand why they have picked on Bolton in this way because the town has got a lot going for it. There's a brand new stadium and a great town centre so why not film it here. "That show will probably be sold abroad, to America. What will people think when they see those pictures? The producers should apologise to the people of Bolton."

His views were echoed by Ernie Bembridge, 59, of Kirkby Road, Smithills, who added: "The programme made Bolton look like a slum. I'm sure a lot of other people in Bolton feel as strongly about this as I do."

Although the film crew had travelled from London to Manchester's Piccadilly Station, a Carlton spokesman said they had decided not to come the 13 miles to Bolton. He added: "When you're filming outside London it can be very expensive and crews have to make the most of their time. Time really is money.

"Some shots were filmed in railway sidings in Longsight and a decision had been taken to film exterior shots, which were to be Bolton, in the surrounding area.

"The high rise flats which appeared in the programme may have been taller than you would find in Bolton. This is a work of fiction, it is not a documentary.

"The decision on locations is taken by the director, designer and producer and must be within the overall budget for the programme."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.