A CASH grant of more than £2 million has been secured to help an "overlooked" area of Bolton halt its decline.

The troubled Paulhan Street estate, which mostly falls within Great Lever, beat the challenge of more than 60 national rivals to the cash incentive.

It will now become one of 20 pioneers of a Government scheme which appoints a neighbourhood manager to oversee responses to pressing problems such as crime, unemployment and poor health. Up to £2.6 million will be spent in the area.

The estate has become one of the most notorious in Bolton with a reputation for crime and vandalism. Many homes were boarded up as it fell into decline.

But until the council's funding bid was successful yesterday the area has missed out on European and Government funding for deprived areas such as that ploughed into Daubhill, Deane and Derby.

The announcement, which will benefit about 3,000 people, has been hailed as a significant leap forward for the area.

Eileen Barlow, chairman of Sunnyside Residents and Tenants Association, said: "It is brilliant news for the whole community. There's a real feeling that everyone is starting to pull in the right direction.

"We have had no money whatsoever until this and that is why the area has gone down so quickly."

Cllr Margaret Clare, whose Harper Green ward includes part of the estate, said : "I'm delighted. We have missed out on funding for years and years and this is a bit like winning the lottery. "This will go a long way towards the intensive approach to the area's problems which have already started adopting.

"We couldn't have done it without the residents. This has been a really community led thing."

Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon, whose constituency includes the Paulhan Street area, said he believed the tide was finally begining to turn.

He said: "The residents association, along with the local councillors, have worked very hard to persuade the council to bid for this kind of money so I'm particularly pleased.

"Most of all we need to involve them to turn the area around and build confidence in it again."

The money will come in two waves. A first £200,000 will be used to develop a plan to boost the area which must be submitted to Westminster by February next year.

Providing that is approved, a further £500,000 to £800,000 a year will be pumped into the estate over the following three years.

The Paulhan Street area will also have the second Sure Start area, intended to give deprived children a better start, following Oxford Grove.