BURY has received Government praise for acting quickly to tackle the threat of global warming.

The local authority is the first in the country to complete the UK pilot programme of the Councils for Climate Protection Campaign.

Officers have been testing software, forecasting greenhouse gas emissions and drawing up plans to achieve reductions.

Councils have been encouraged to work with residents and businesses on a range of ideas, from cutting the use of fossil fuels to reducing car travel and boosting recycling.

Environment minister Michael Meacher said: "I would like to congratulate Bury for showing leadership in this area and for publishing a programme that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Bury.

"This shows that local action can be taken to help solve a global problem, and I hope that many other local authorities will follow suit."

The council has also been consulting on its own climate change strategy, which sets emission reduction targets both for the town hall and local communities.

Councillor Derek Boden, deputy council leader, said Bury was one of just 24 authorities chosen to pilot this scheme.

"Although we are the first to complete it, the main thing is that we have shown that it works and hopefully many others will follow our lead," he said.

"We have begun our own series of initiatives to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and more will follow.

"We are optimistic that the borough will reduce its emissions by as much as 30 per cent before the 2010 deadline, while the council expects to do even better and reduce its figure by 50 per cent."

Copies of Bury's climate change strategy can be studied at local libraries, or viewed on the council's website on www.bury.gov.uk/bury/downloadablefiles/climatechangedraft.pdf.