BOLTON Lads and Girls Club is to appoint a fundraising chief to raise cash for the centre's growing membership.

The Spa Road complex needs to find £200,000 every year to finance its ever-increasing numbers.

Bolton companies Nick Hopkinson and Scott Dawson Advertising have contributed £10,000 each to pay for a fundraiser.

Jerry Glover, Bolton Lads and Girls Club chief executive, said that membership had trebled since the club's new centre opened nearly three years ago.

He added: "Raising money is fundamental to a club such as ours. It is great that we have been able to get £20,000 to employ a fundraiser."

Around 2,500 children are involved in the club's activities every week and the new headquarters cost £5 million to build.

Its £4m lottery grant awarded between 2000 and 2002 remains the single biggest lottery award that Sport England has ever made to a voluntary organisation.

The club is for youngsters aged from four to 21, who, for a 40p entrance fee, have access to a wide range of activities and sports ranging from 19 football teams to a brand new climbing wall.

The club offers affordable childcare before and after school, and is open seven days a week throughout the year.

There is also a weekly club for Muslim girls which is attended by up to 70 young women, and is staffed by women.