BOLTON is today celebrating a hat-trick of lottery successes.

Three out of seven Lottery Sports Fund awards totalling nearly £270,000 made in the North-west this month go to Bolton Council.

The largest Bolton grant is £109,269 which will "support the installation and setting up" of a Human Performance-Lifestyle Centre based at Bolton College.

This innovative project is a joint partnership between Bolton College and Bolton Council's Leisure Services Department and will provide fitness analysis for young people and the general public embarking on a fitness programme, as well as offering advice on new techniques and skills to elite sports performers of any discipline. With the help of a grant of £59,959 Farnworth Swimming Pool will soon be able to offer a much wider range of sports provision to the local community.

As well as upgrading and expanding the existing outdated facilities, the centre will offer a floodlit all-weather multi-use games area and a new weight and fitness training suite.

Bolton-le-Moors Junior Badminton League, based at Harper Green Sports Centre, was launched last year and has been so successful that it will have to move into a larger hall at the same premises which does not currently accommodate badminton.

An award of £11,548 will be used to buy six portable badminton court surfaces which can be rolled out when required whilestill enabling the hall to continue to be used for a variety of other sports.

Elsewhere in the region, Birtle Disabled Riding Centre in Bury will receive an award of £22,799 towards extending its facilities for people with disabilities.

The school at present caters for up to 90 children and is confident that the project will enable it to double the capacity.

David Heddon, acting regional director of the Sports Council (North-west) says: "This is more good news for the region. I am particularly pleased to see Bolton doing so well this month as it is recognised as one of the Lottery Sports Fund Priority Areas, qualifying for special assistance with the provision of sports facilities."

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