AN eyesore area in Westhoughton town centre which has become infested with rats, litter and weeds will be revamped in a £25,000 scheme.

Ditchfield Car Park has been a regular subject of complaints as the condition of lands behind shops in Market Street has declined.

But Bolton Council has been frustrated in its efforts to improve the area, which officers say creates a terrible impression for visitors to the town, because they feel property owners have been unco-operative.

Now it is understood that proposals will be developed for a strip of council land between the car park and the shops to be landscaped, with trees planted to create a screen to hide the litter and weeds.

About £25,000 from the council's Westhoughton District Fund is being brought forward into the new financial year which starts next month.

Bolton Council are hoping to draw up a detailed proposal in consultation with Westhoughton town councillors and the property owners, who it is hoped will contribute towards the cost of the scheme.

Cllr David Wilkinson gave a blunt assessment of the situation.

He said: "It's a dump. There's no ifs or buts about it. It's awful. The back of these buildings look like slums, the litter is terrible and it's infested with vermin.

"I get a lot of complaints from residents about it. They ask what the council is doing but there's a limit to what we can do when the private owners don't seem to be interested.

"Hopefully once this scheme's put into place it will look a bit better and we can keep on top of it. But the onus is also on landlords and the lazy people who drop litter to meet us half way. It's a constant battle."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "A project is being worked up in consultation with local stakeholders. The proposal will be high quality and ultimately benefit Westhoughton."

COPING WITH DIABETES: REPORT P11