COUNCIL chiefs look set to say a firm "non" to a cheeky French bid to run Bolton's council houses.

It was announced at last night's Bolton Council meeting that it is looking like the council's in-house bid will be successful.

The BEN had revealed that a French firm was trying to win a council housing management contract.

But Cllr Brian Iddon, housing committee chairman, made a statement that the housing direct labour organisation seems to have made the lowest bid.

By law, the council has to now consult its 22,000 council tenants to ask their opinion.

If they back the DLO more than 300 local jobs will be saved.

Cllr Iddon said: "There has been a lot of rumour and speculation and we felt it was right to make this statement."

He added that he was hoping to make a further announcement at the next housing committee meeting on November 28.

Afterwards, he said: "It does seem that the French firm won't get it at the moment.

"It is now up to the tenants, but I do have confidence that they will back the DLO."

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