BOLTON could be celebrating the dawn of the new century in spectacular style.

Council chiefs are planning to draw up a series of special events to mark the start of the new millennium.

But councillors at a civic affairs sub committee meeting will be warned that it could cost up to £250,000 if they go ahead with six special events during the year 2000.

The bill would include a £22,000 a year salary for someone to organise the celebrations.

A report will go to the council's civic affairs sub committee on Friday and it is proposed that a working party will be set up.

It says that the council has to decide what scale of event it wants to stage and what it wants to spend.

The report says: "To do nothing is not a real option. The build-up to a celebration of the year 2000 will be significant and the council needs to determine its level of involvement and financial commitment."

The council would be hoping for Millennium Commission cash to fund some of the projects.

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