CHANGES to Leigh's Parliamentary ward boundaries have been delayed after hundreds of residents opposed the plans.

The Boundary Commission has announced it is to hold a three-week inquiry into the redrawing of the political map following an angry response from people in Hulton.

The Commission received 280 letters objecting to the proposals to incorporate it in the Bolton South-east constituency.

Under the plans, Hulton - which is incorporated in Bolton West and Bolton South-east - would shift entirely to Bolton South-east.

Atherton, which is currently part of the Leigh constituency, would also be incorporated into Bolton West.

Conservative councillors in Hulton say people in the area are angry that their historical links with Bolton West and the township of Westhoughton could be lost.

But Liberal Democrat deputy council leader Cllr Roger Hayes has accused the Tories of whipping-up opposition to the plans which, he claimed, would wipe out any chance of the Conservatives snatching Bolton West from Labour Education Secretary Ruth Kelly.

Conservative councillor Andy Morgan said: "These people want to stick with Bolton West and feel that incorporating Atherton is blurring the borough's boundary with Wigan."

Labour leader Cliff Morris said: "I think it makes sense that Hulton goes into Bolton South-east - it used to be in that constituency."

The aim of the changes is to create constituencies with voting populations as close to 69,000 as possible.

Under Government rules, Bolton's voting population of 202,743 makes it entitled to 2.9 parliamentary seats.

If the proposals are approved, Bolton North East - currently represented in Parliament by David Crausby - will cover the wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Crompton, Halliwell and Tonge with The Haulgh.

Dr Brian Iddon's Bolton South-east seat will cover the wards of Farnworth, Great Lever, Harper Green, Hulton, Kearsley, Little Lever and Darcy Lever and Rumworth, while Ruth Kelly's Bolton West will represent people living in Heaton and Lostock, Horwich and Blackrod, Horwich North-east, Smithillls, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, Westhoughton South and Atherton

The inquiry will be held at Manchester Town Hall between Monday, October 31, and Thursday, November 17.