WILDLIFE lovers could soon go on safari...in Bolton.

It is part of a £19.1 million scheme to take the borough into the 21st century.

A millennium project has been put together which will create "safari centres" all over the borough.

There will be open spaces in various parts of the area linked by a network of walkways and cycleways.

Mini-cameras throughout the borough will record wildlife and the recordings will be shown in the safari centres.

Council chiefs are also investigating whether it would be possible to show the films in homes if a local cable television station was set up.

The scheme has cleared the first hurdle for Millennium Commission funding.

And a more detailed bid has to be in by November 11.

The scheme includes improvements to Queens Park, but plans for a huge "Central Park" have been scaled down.

It was found to take up too much of the budget for the scheme and would not leave enough money for the project to extend to the outlying districts such as Horwich, Westhoughton and Farnworth.

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