COUNCIL-owned homes in Bolton are to be given a £25 million makeover.

The cash boost was announced yesterday by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly.

It will be used by Bolton At Home, the management company which controls the town's 18,769 council houses to carry out improvements including new kitchens, roofs and windows.

Some of the cash is also likely to be spent on helping council estates fight anti-social behaviour by giving council tenants' organisations the right to apply for ASBOs against nuisance residents. Mr Blair said: "No-one knows better how to transform a community more than the people that live there.

"The new extended powers will ensure that those people who are most affected by anti-social behaviour can take the swift action that is needed to stamp it out."

Cllr Noel Spencer, chairman of Bolton At Home, travelled to Downing Street yesterday to speak to Mr Blair and Ms Kelly about the future of social housing.

Bolton's allocation comes from a £485 million pot which has been split up between 12 council housing management companies in England. Bury will also benefit from £7,920,000.

Mrs Kelly said the money would be spent on new roofs, new windows and kitchens, but also on "delivering better and more efficient services".

The £25 million follows an £80 million boost given to Bolton At Home in 2004 to bring housing up to 21st century standards.

That scheme formed part of a £1 billion Government home improvement programme to be carried out over 30 years.