A LOCAL Euro MP has expressed his delight at the green light given to the Leigh Sports Village.

Labour North West's, Terry Wynn, spoke after Wigan Council approved the multi-million pound scheme, claiming it would be wholely beneficial to the Leigh area.

The plan is centered around an ambitious 10,000 seater capacity stadium for Leigh Centurions RLFC next door to the newly developed Wigan and Leigh college.

Mr Wynn said: "The Sports Village will bring Leigh's young people into the community and give it just the shot in the arm it needs to bring the pride back again.

"I also see it as being a real catalyst for job creation and expect inward investement to follow when people sit up and start to take notice that Leigh is really starting to go places again."

All five stages of the Sports Village have been accepted. This combines two office complexes close to Atherleigh Way, retail warehousing on the site of Leigh East rugby league club's ground, the Marshall Street College and stadium.

New housing will be built on the Leigh Harriers current ground in Holden Road and new community football pitches will be created near to the Howe Bridge Leisure centre.

Because two of these represent technical departures from Wigan MBC's unitary development plan they will have to be refered to Deputy Prime Minister John Presscott, who has the option of calling a public inquiry.

But they will go with the written support of Mr Wynn and he predicted: "I don't forsee any real problems."