ARTS groups in Bolton will find it "very difficult" to win National Lottery grants, a council chief has warned.

Mr Tony Hughes, Bolton Council's Arts Officer, hit out at the way grants are handed out which favours larger organisations.

Speaking at a meeting of the council's cultural sub committee, he said: "The more you are able to put in, the more you are likely to get out."

He added that larger organisations like the Bolton Octagon Theatre are more likely to be successful than small groups.

Meanwhile, a report presented to councillors showed that only one arts grant has do far been given of £17,910 to Eaton's Farnworth Band.

The Octagon is waiting to hear whether a £850,000 application for re-furbishment work has been successful.

Councillors hit out at the large proportion of money which has so far been handed out to organisations in the South of England. Labour Cllr Tom Anderton said: "People who can afford to go to the opera don't need the money and so probably don't even buy a lottery ticket."

Liberal Democrat Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson, an opera fan, added: "This would be better received if the money went to touring companies so that they could come to Manchester."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.