MACHINES which revolutionised life in Bolton and stand at the heart of the borough's industrial heritage are being shipped out of town.

Bolton Museum Service, which boasts the most important collection of early cotton textile machinery in the world has agreed to lend most of it to two North-west museums because it hasn't the space to display it in the town.

The collection - which will be out of town for at least five years - includes the spinning mule built and operated by the pioneer of the industrial revolution Samuel Crompton in the 1780's, the Spinning Jenny invented by James Hargreaves and the Water Frame invented by Sir Richard Arkwright.

For the past two years the machines have been housed in storage at Bolton Enterprise Centre in Washington Street. They have not been on public view since the closure of Tonge Moor Textile Museum in 1993.

At a meeting of the Arts sub committee yesterday, councillors were told the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester had requested to borrow the Spinning Mule and the Spinning Jenny to form part of a new, major gallery "Making Textiles" which will open in December next year.

Helmshore Textile Museum, Rossendale, which attracts more than 40,000 visitors each year, has asked to borrow a section of wooden drive shafting and a wooden carding engine to boost its existing displays.

In his report to councillors Dr John Gray, head of museum service, said the loan period would be for five years with an option to extend, if mutually agreeable.

But he stressed that publicity material displayed in both museums would clearly state the machinery's links with Bolton. Labour councillor Mrs Prentice Howarth, said: "This machinery is an important part of Bolton's past and we cannot agree to any loan which will prevent this council in the future being deprived of such a vital part of Bolton's heritage. "We cannot be seen to be tying the hands of future members of this council and depriving the people and the schoolchildren of Bolton of their heritage," she added.

After receiving assurances from Dr Gray that the loan period would be clearly stipulated, members agreed the items could go.

Tory councillor Alan Wilkinson, said: "It is sad that we cannot display these items in Bolton, but surely it's far better that they should be shown somewhere rather than locked away as they have been."

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