TOWN Hall chiefs are still waiting to hear why vital cash aid to create jobs will go to two of Bolton's most upmarket areas.

There was uproar earlier this year when it was revealed that Farnworth and Kearsley -- two of the borough's most deprived areas -- had been denied assisted area status.

With pockets of high unemployment and social deprivation, the areas would have benefited from grant aid to attract new businesses and create jobs.

But they have now been replaced on the assisted area status map by Bromley Cross and Astley Bridge, two of Bolton's more prosperous suburbs.

Millions of pounds worth of regeneration in industry and jobs will now benefit these areas. The two Bolton wards have been linked in an assisted area corridor stretching to Darwen and Blackburn.

Business leaders and politicians were baffled when the news was announced.

Mr Pat Rattigan, assistant director of environment, responsible for economic development, told councillors at a town hall scrutiny committee that there had still been no response from the Department of Trade of Industry.

Meanwhile, there were concerns also expressed at the meeting of the corporate issues scrutiny committee that Bolton is missing out in the race to attract more investment into the North-west.

Fears were expressed that organisations such as the North West Regional Development Agency and INWARD, which brings investment into the region, did not have Bolton as their top priority.

Councillors called for a detailed report on how many new jobs have been brought into the town through these agencies.

And there were claims that Bolton would be better off "going it alone."

Tory deputy leader Cllr John Walsh said: "Bolton has to create its own initiatives. The world is not going to come and save Bolton.

"We have to create our own niche and nothing will happen unless we do so."