BOLTON’S first ever dedicated armed forces centre is set to open next month — in a different location to first planned.

Tonge with the Haulgh Cllr Martin Donaghy, who came up with the idea for the centre during his mayoral year of 2014/15, had initially planned to open up in the former Sweetens bookshop in Deansgate.

However, the new facility will now be based in the unit which used to house the Hoot Credit Union on the corner of Blackhorse Street and Le Mans Crescent.

The premises is available since Hoot relocated as part of Bolton Council's The Square facility in Victoria Square.

Cllr Donaghy and a band of loyal volunteers have been busy painting the inside and outside of the building with a view to opening up in early September.

The centre will be dedicated to helping former members of the armed services and their families in a variety of areas which can be a struggle once their time in the forces is over.

The centre will work with a number of partnership organisations and charities to offer support and advice on issues like housing, gaining work experience and dealing with mental health issues.

The borough’s social housing group Bolton at Home will offer the services of a housing officer once a week to deal with client referrals and Bolton College has agreed to lend its support with courses for users of the centre.

Cllr Donaghy said he also has an agreement with the University of Bolton, which has earmarked £100,000 of its budget for ex-service people who wish to go into higher education up to degree level.

Other organisations which have signed up to the project are local building firm Seddons, who along with Bolton at Home have offered work experience opportunities, and the Pennine Acute Trust, which will provide volunteers who can offer specialist help to those who have served and have been left with mental health issues.

Labour Cllr Donaghy has also enlisted help from the opposition benches in the shape of Tory Cllr Andy Morgan, who has previously served in the armed forces.

Cllr Donaghy said: “I pledged to create this centre when I was Mayor of Bolton because I believe more needs to be done to support brave service men and women who have served our country when they get home.

“This will be the first dedicated armed forces centre in Bolton and I believe it will show our combined services how much they are respected and cared for by the people of Bolton.”