ATTEMPTS to revitalise a Bolton shopping street have been boosted by plans submitted by fast food giant KFC.

The restaurant chain proposes to locate on the corner of Oxford Street and Deansgate, directly opposite McDonalds.

More than 40 full and part-time jobs will be created if the plans are given the go-ahead.

Earlier this week, Bolton Council leader Bob Howarth called for urgent action to fill vacant units on Oxford Street.

It is hoped the fast food restaurant -- housed in the former Alliance and Leicester unit which has been empty for four years -- would lead to further regeneration of the area.

Surrey-based KFC would take up all three floors, using the ground floor to offer seating to up to 100 customers.

It would open from 9am to 1am each day, extending to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Cathy Savage, marketing manager for the Bolton Town Centre Company, said: "The positioning of KFC on the corner of Oxford Street would be a good anchor, hopefully attracting more companies to locate there.

"It's tremendous news for Bolton and shows, once again, that big names are attracted here."

Cllr Howarth said Oxford Street was blighted by fly posters and vacant units.

The street -- between Victoria Square and Deansgate -- has long been a busy thoroughfare for shoppers.

A spokesman for KFC said: "We already have a presence in Bolton at Middlebrook Retail Park but we would very much like to have a base in the town centre."