WORK on building a new Bolton police headquarters will start in February.

The new police station will replace the existing divisional HQ which is to close as part of a massive £78 million scheme to modernise ageing police stations throughout Greater Manchester over the next 25 years.

Sixteen new police stations are to be built in the county. In addition to the headquarters in Scholey Street, Bolton -- near the old Burnden Park football stadium -- a "deployment" station will be built at Middlebrook.

The new headquarters will become operational by January, 2005.

Crown Prosecution Service solicitors will also have a dedicated room in the new building.

Work on building the smaller deployment station will also start in February and is expected to officially open in October, 2004. It will serve as a base for police vans and cars covering the Westhoughton, Horwich and Blackrod.

The existing stations at Westhoughton, Farnworth and Horwich will close. Astley Bridge Police Station in Crompton Way is the only station which will survive. Smaller police posts will be created -- including one in Bolton town centre.

Cllr Steven Murphy, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, said: "The stations are designed to ensure that we are both more visible and accessible to members of the public."

In addition, they provide officers and support staff with the right facilities to carry out their jobs to the highest standards."

Michael Todd, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, added: "We look forward to the construction of the new police stations, which will be modern and well-located buildings.

"They are absolutely essential if we are to provide both residents and visitors to Greater Manchester with the up-to-date, innovative operational police service that we believe they deserve."

The new stations include divisional headquarters in Ashton-under- Lyne, Wigan and Swinton with sub-divisional headquarters in Wythenshawe, Tameside, Stockport, Salford and Chadderton in Oldham.

Atherton will have a new police station by March 2005 at the junction of Flapper Fold Lane and Gloucester Street.

It will act as base to specialist units including criminal investigation, crime management, scenes of crime, specialist constabulary, traffic training, community affairs and traffic wardens.