BURY is bidding for £1 million to transform the town's art gallery and museum into a first-class heritage centre.

If successful, the ambitious Lottery bid will create a new museum and archive centre on the lower ground floor of the Moss Street building.

The cash would also pay to install a lift and ramp access to the complex, which would absorb the existing archive section based at Edwin Street.

Bosses hope that the Bury plan will lead to a series of "satellite" museums around the borough, with the second phase being the Market museum project in Radcliffe.

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for lifelong learning, said: "Increasingly visitors are expecting to access heritage and culture at one service point.

"By merging our museum and archive services we will be putting our users first. We also have the exciting prospect of creating greater potential for displaying archive material and museum objects together.

"People will be able to interpret the bigger story about Bury as an area. Visitors could look at the museum displays and then seek out more information in a seated and well-appointed research facility."

Museum bosses have been guided by business adviser Mr Alex Wiseman, head of strategic planning at United Utilities. His involvement came through the Arthur Andersen Skills Bank Scheme, which is run by Business in the Arts: North West.

Coun Perkins added: "We have put together what we believe is a great concept. Thanks to the expertise of Alex, we are confident of having a business plan to match it."

Mr Wiseman said: "I have greatly enjoyed working with the museum and, as a local resident, look forward to benefiting from the Museum and Archive Centre project."

The museum should hear by September if its bid has been successful.