LEIGH Infirmary is being promoted as the best site for a multi-million pound diagnostic and treatment centre serving the Wigan and Bolton areas.

MP Andy Burnham (Leigh) and his colleagues Ian McCartney (Makerfield) and Neil Turner (Wigan) are today arguing Leigh's case with health chiefs.

Mr Burnham told the Journal : "I think we have a rock solid case, Leigh is slap bang in the middle of Bolton and Wigan. It is ideally situated and has on-site space for such a development."

Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority chief executive Neil Goodwin will be told that Leigh is perfect for such a development and has space on site to accommodate a new building for pre-planned operations and investigative surgery.

The choice of The Avenue hospital site would ease congestion at other hospitals with A & E facilities.

"Leigh is the ideal location -- there are so many positive reasons for such a development here," said Mr Burnham.

TOWPATH tales have brought a call for a canalside upgrade.

Locals were embarrassed when industrial heritage champion and colourful steeplejack Fred Dibnah highlighted the poor state of canal bank walkways in the Leigh area during his televised journey through Britain.

Now MP Andy Burnham has taken up the challenge and is pressing Leigh people's demands for a better walkway.

Yesterday Mr Burnham met with British Waterways officials on the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath near Leigh Bridge to highlight requests for a better walking surface and a proper canalside trail from Leigh town centre to Pennington Flash Country Park.