PLANS to overhaul a town centre pub received a boost after they were given the thumbs-up by councillors.

Amber Taverns' proposals to revamp the Wheatsheaf in Westhoughton were unanimously recommended for approval by town councillors this evening (Tuesday).

The pub company has applied to fully refurbishment the trading area and manager's accommodation at the Market Street Venue.

It plans to build a single storey extension to side and rear of the pub and extend the existing beer garden area.

And the applicant expects to provide jobs for five full-time and six part-time employees.

Labour's Cllr David Chadwick told fellow councillors he welcomed the application.

He said: "We want to retain businesses in Westhoughton town centre and anything that can enhance The Wheatsheaf has got to be good for the centre of Westhoughton.

"A lot of renovations have been done on a lot of pubs in the locality and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't agree to this one. It will make the pub more viable than it already is."

However, both Cllr Chadwick told the meeting the lack of investment in the pub in the past was not a failing of the previous landlord and landlady.

He said: "They never had the funds but now someone has come along saying they want to modernise it, in loose terms, and make it into a restaurant, that hopefully people will use in Westhoughton.

And Cllr David Wilkinson of the Liberal Democrats, also welcomed the plans.

He said: "What they do inside might be a bit different to what's already there, but somebody has decided to come and put some money into it.

"It will be a reasonable venue, they have a reasonable reputation for doing pubs up.

"It might not be the same as The Wheatsheaf we had in the past, but sometimes you have to take what's coming."

And echoing Cllr Chadwick's comments he added: "The landlord and landlady before just didn't have the funds from the pub chain behind them, unfortunately."

A final decision on the application will be made by members of Bolton Council's planning committee.