BOLTON'S run-down school buildings are set to benefit from a cash windfall of almost £1 million.

But although the grant is the seventh largest to be handed out in the North-west, one headteacher claims it would take at least half of it just to repair his school.

And Peter Jeffries, headteacher of Harper Green in Farnworth, claims Bolton needs at least £50 million to brings its schools into the 21st Century.

He said: "Since 1979 there has not been any investment in our schools but this year there has been tremendous support and it is a sign of good things to come."

Bolton is one of 22 authorities in the region receiving the much-needed cash. It will be handed £972,106.

That sum will be split between every school in Bolton. Primary schools will receive an average of £12,000 while each secondary school will be handed around £36,000, depending on the number of pupils in each educational establishment.

Mr Jeffries, who believed his own school needed up to half-a-million pounds, said: "We desperately need the money to help us cope with expanding pupil numbers and update our aging science labs.

"This school has a wonderful drama department but the facility is 40-years-old.

"We need a new music room, a new library and the hope is we can make our school as good as any public or grant-maintained school in five years."

Cllr Linda Thomas, Bolton's executive member for education, said: "I really welcome this Government investment in our schools.

"It means that schools will be able to use existing and new money to make real investments in educational quality.

"This extra money will help schools to attack the backlog of repairs going back over the last 20 years."

The grants were announced by the Government's Schools Minister Jacqui Smith.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of previous Private Finance Initiative funding for Castle Hill Primary School which is now being rebuilt.