WIGAN'S housing department has been given a slap on the back for its work on renovating blocks of old terraced houses - including Bedford.

The attractive transformation of homes in renewal areas and action zones in the Ince and Leigh areas was praised by the Civic Trust.

At a recent ceremony at the new Wigan and Leigh Hospice, housing committee chairman Cllr Geoff Roberts, accepted a prestigious Trust Award for 1998.

Trust chairman Tom Price said: "The council has set a standard and changed the environment radically, with care and real attention to detail. It is something of which council tax payers should be proud."

Cllr Roberts said: "We are very proud to receive this award. We have won awards at national level, but for this we were voted for by Leigh and Wiganers who are a most discriminating band of people, and in an important sense are our customers.

"The council's environmental health and consumer protection department has been active in bringing together owner occupiers and helping them with renovation grants.

"They have not only once again made these properties fit to live in, but spent extra time and effort making them very attractive to look at as well."

Anyone living in one of the housing action areas interested in a block improvement scheme should ring 01942 827085.

The new hospice also received a Trust plaque and certificate.

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