BOOMTOWN is the name for a Hollywood style film and TV development project created by Wigan Council.

Newly appointed Claire Duffy has responsibility for the three-year venture devised by Wigan Council's leisure and cultural services department in an attempt to encourage production companies to use the area, by providing a database of film-friendly businesses, hotels and local crew.

The project will promote a bank of digital images of locations and building specifications, all of which will be available on a new Boomtown website.

Claire said: "This is a very exciting project for the borough. Film and television production provides many benefits to a local area -- prestige, profile and money. In 2000 film-makers spent two weeks filming Liam in Ince and spent £80,000 in the area."