CIVIC leaders have taken their first glimpse at the planned £1.7 million Leverhulme Park development.

An indoor athletics stadium housing a 60-metre athletics track is to replace the park's crumbling pavilion under a Government scheme to drive up Bolton's fitness levels.

The two-storey building will also be used for a range of other sports and fitness activities and house two doctor's surgeries.

At a town hall Direct Services meeting, councillors looked at the proposals for the first time and gave the go-ahead for more detailed economic and business plans to be drawn up.

These will be assessed by Sport England, the development's main funding body.

The Leverhulme Park development is the largest of three schemes being funded across the North-west as part of Sport England's Active England campaign.

It is also the largest sport and leisure related investment in the town since the £15 million Bolton Arena opened in 2001.

Work on the project could start this summer for an opening next April. Initial planning applications are now to be drawn up.

Breightmet councillor Madeline Murray said: "We'd be thrilled to bits for the scheme to go ahead.

"It will be great for the town from a health point of view and hopefully get more people involved in sport. This is going to be a first class sports venue and a real credit to the town.

"Obviously we're delighted that it's coming to Breightmet. It's an area that does need some investment and hopefully this will be a big boost for the people who live there."