A £100,000 project to brighten up some of Bolton's dreariest council estates has come under fire.

Housing chiefs have given the go-ahead for the plan to develop community art schemes.

But Tory Cllr John Hanscomb hit out at a housing committee meeting, claiming that the cash-strapped council had more urgent priorities.

He said: "You are always bleating about a shortage of finance and I am surprised that you are going along this path of political correctness." Labour Cllr Carl Dennis also attacked the scheme.

He said: "We have buildings which are falling apart and now we are listening to some sort of fairy story."

But councillors voted to approve the scheme which would allow tenants to become involved in designing items such as railings, pavings, play areas.

It would also feature arts and cultural festivals, tenants' newsletters and photographs. Vice chairman Cllr Mrs Linda Thomas said: "We are not just about bricks and mortar.

"we are trying to build communities.

"We have a lot of disaffected young people on our estates and if we can encourage them to have an input on their communities, then we will have achieved something."

Tenants will have to come forward with their own ideas for the schemes.

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