GREATER Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has reacted to criticism that he is not doing enough.

He was responding to comments from local opposition party leaders who felt his first year in power had produced very little for Bolton.

Mr Burnham said he had been continually putting pressure on transport providers, was helping bring investment to Farnworth and had won funding for the Octagon and Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme.

On Wednesday, opposition leaders in Bolton said they felt Mr Burnham had done little for the town and had promised a lot and had good ideas but had not yet produced any outcomes.

Mr Burnham said: “It’s a year and people have to be realistic, there is a limit to what I can do and it’s been a challenging year in many ways.

“However, there are a number of things I have done.”

He said: “The biggest issue in Bolton is my ongoing and protracted discussions with Network Rail and Northern.

“I’ve spent a considerable about of time on it and specifically had a meeting on the Bolton line and have put them under pressure from my office. We’ve had a commitment from Northern for a compensation package. I’ve been pushing Network Rail hard on the completion of the upgrade.”

He revealed Network Rail had told him full service would resume in Bolton on December 10.

The Mayor highlighted his town centre challenge initiative, where each authority was asked to nominate a town centre they would like to see improved and invested in. Bolton chose Farnworth.

Mr Burnham said: “Farnworth has been nominated and I had a big meeting with a whole range of community groups and councillors in March to start the process for the vision for the town.

"That’s a significant commitment for the borough.

“I’ve spoken to people and there’s a lot of passion there in terms of wanting to see new investment.”

The town centre challenge is a way of uniting interested parties in order to kick start regeneration in a particular town like Farnworth.

The Octagon Theatre Bolton was one of 28 organisations to receive a share of £7 million over the next two years from the Greater Manchester Culture and Social Impact Fund.

n Read more about the rail update on pg 5