SCHOOLS in Bolton will benefit from £3.5 million of National Lottery funding in the biggest transformation of sport and physical education in the town's history.

The huge cash injection from the Lottery's New Opportunities fund will be used to upgrade school sporting amenities and create new facilities such as an all-weather pitch which could be used by the outside community as well as pupils.

More than 60 representatives from the town's primary and secondary schools attended a meeting with Bolton education chiefs to discuss how the money can be used. A total of 57 bids were submitted to the council.

Sharples, Thornleigh and Westhoughton high schools have all applied for funding to have an all-weather pitch built in their grounds, but there is only sufficient money to pay for one new pitch.

Other schools have applied for cash to build a dance and gymnastic studio, to revamp their green spaces by adding new drainage systems to allow for field sports all year round and Brownlow Fold Primary School has requested funding for a multi-purpose games area.

The synthetic pitch will be smaller than the full size all-weather site, but will be big enough for five-a-side football and basketball and will be open to local primary schools during the day and community groups in the evening.

The original applications have been reduced to a short-list of 52 and a report on the full costs and benefits to the community will be sent to the New Opportunities Fund team on April 22.

The projects are not likely to get off the ground until summer 2003 as the council will receive confirmation on what schemes can be pursued between September and December of this year.

The initiative is the biggest ever sports investment and is part of a £750m cash handout nationally to back the Government's efforts to make sport more visible in the community and to change the health habits of youngsters.

Bolton Council's executive member for education, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: "This is money which has been designated to us rather than having to bid for it.

"It's a great opportunity to enhance sports facilities across the town both for curricular and extra curricular activities as well as for the community."