DELIGHTED leisure chiefs last night described Bolton's first success in winning national lottery cash as "tremendous news".

As reported in the BEN last week, the council has been awarded £168,000 for a major re-furbishment of Horwich Leisure Centre.

The whole scheme will cost £260,000 and the council will find the rest of the cash.

Mr Ralph Eastham, head of policy and resources, said at a leisure services committee meeting: "This is tremendous news."

It was also revealed that they are "cautiously optimistic" of winning another £87,000 towards drainage programmes for five playing fields.

They are Harper Green, Scholes Bank at Horwich, Barlow Park, Bolton, Longsight Park, Harwood and Moss Bank Park.

The Horwich Leisure Centre scheme includes upgrading the fitness studio, providing a dance and aerobics area, re-siting the sauna, plunge pool and jacuzzi area known as Shapes, re-furbishing the toilets and changing rooms and providing a children's sports facility. Horwich councillors Labour's Mrs Betty McCracken and Liberal Democrat Bob Ronson both welcomed the news.

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