RETAIL expert Maria Appleton is set to become Bolton's own Boadicea in the shops war with Dumplington.

She has been given the job of spearheading Bolton's battle against competition from the massive, multi-million pound Trafford centre predicted to pinch money from town centre tills.

Shop managers and the council have joined forces to set up a fighting fund and the appointment of Mrs Appleton is the first shot in the campaign against Dumplington.

Next month Mrs Appleton, 41, is moving from Rochdale, where she has been town centre manager for over three years.

She has has a long retail management background and has worked for a number of high street names since joining Macro as a management trainee from school.

She helped introduce a Shopmobility scheme in Rochdale as well as improving security with the introduction of a radio network linking retailers to the police.

And Mrs Appleton is confident that Bolton can remain a popular attraction for shoppers from all over the North West, despite the future threat from a few miles down the motorway.

She said: "My mum and dad had a small business so I understand the needs of the small retailer and the large stores.

"We all have to work together to meet the challenge from Dumplington. I am sure it can be done because Bolton is very well equipped - it has a super town centre and the people are fabulous."

Mrs Appleton, a mother of one, lives in St Helens and is an animal lover. The family have seven pets, including a Shetland pony called Magic.

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