BOLTON'S former municipal grammar school is being transformed into trendy loft apartments.

The 35 apartments, which will be completed by early next year, are a first for the town centre and likely to attract young professionals into an area where there are no other flats or houses.

Similar initiatives in cities such as Manchester and Leeds have proved hugely popular and attracted businesses, bars and restaurants into previously rundown and neglected areas.

The old grammar school, which closed in the early 1970s, later became Bolton Institute's Art and Design department.

The Institute sold the red brick building two years ago as part of a £1.5 million revamp of college premises.

Irwell Valley Housing Association now owns the building which is currently covered in scaffolding and undergoing major refurbishment.

The development, which is called "The Old School Rooms", includes 12 different types of apartment with predominantly two bedroom flats.

Apartments will be sold on a shared ownership basis which allows people to part-buy and part-rent with the opportunity to buy the flats after at least 12 months.

A show apartment will be ready for prospective buyers to view in mid October, but prices have not yet been released.

Fiona Mcauley from the housing association said: "We will be leaving the style of what is a lovely old building, but the apartments will be very contemporary and unique in design.''

Steven Carnes from the Knight Frank company, which is marketing the apartments, said: "This is a very different and new kind of development for Bolton and is in a handy area of town with Nelson Square just around the corner."