THE success of Bolton's Museum and Art Gallery over the past year has prompted council chiefs to consider a major revamp.

Proposals have been put forward to create more space for exhibits at the popular and imposing Le Mans Crescent building.

They also include plans to develop the Central Library with better IT provision.

But while the move is being seen as an essential part of boosting the town's recreational and educational facilities, the ideas are still in their infancy.

And it could take five to six years before they bear fruit.

A spokesman said: "A set of proposals to develop the building and adapt it to enhance visitor facilities has been put forward but nothing is concrete at the moment. A lot depends on finance."

Town hall chiefs have given approval to the council's department of education and arts to investigate ways to fund the proposed project.

Basic facilities such as better toilet provision and disabled access are among the schemes awaiting possible cash.

News of the plans follows a successful year for the Museum and Art Gallery. Recently, visitors were treated to the masterpiece, "Nearing Camp, Evening on the Upper Colorado River, 1882", by internationally-acclaimed painter Thomas Moran. And the "Away with the Dinos" event last month -- which included dinosaur "skins", "skeletons" and a family of model dinosaurs -- attracted huge numbers of people.