UNEMPLOYED people in Halliwell are to be given £160,000 from Europe.

The European Regional Development cash will fund a scheme to help the long-term unemployed develop skills and experience in landscaping and maintaining land.

Bolton City Challenge and developer William Hargreaves Ltd will supply a further £322,000 for the scheme which replaces the Community Action Programme, disbanded when the Government withdrew funding.

The scheme will enable four teams of 10 to undertake landscaping and ground work on a part-time basis in the Tonge and Astley Brook Valleys. Trainees will receive business and computer tuition to help them set up their own businesses. City Challenge chairman and Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Bob Howarth said: "The original scheme has been taken a stage further by providing specific training to satisfy a need in the area.

"Not only will the recipients be able to achieve training towards NVQs in Environmental Conservation, they will undertake a broad range of business, computer and career development exercises as well."

Anyone interested in joining the scheme should contact Don Quigley at Bolton Wildlife Project, 125, Blackburn Road on 361847.

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