FORMER Golborne teacher Nick Burdekin has joined Wigan's highly successful People and Places Programme.

Nick, 27, taught at All Saints Primary School in Golborne before changing career and taking a Masters Degree in environmental resources at Salford University.

For two years, he was occupied in giving energy efficiency advice and help to schools, businesses and householders as an officer of the Milton Keynes Energy Agency.

As People and Places Manager for Wigan, Nick is taking the opportunity to widen his horizons and expertise, but will make full use of his experience of relating with schools and local residents.

He said: "Thanks to Teresa Jennings' hard work, I have been able to take over a programme which has an excellent past record, and I have every intention of building on that solid foundation.

"It would be nice for example if we could win the programme of the year again. However, the main effort will be to encourage local communities, especially schools and residents, to work together to cherish and improve their environment.

"Lots of local businesses have already been made aware of the People and Places Programme and its message, but there must be many more who aren't and they must be targeted. The whole effort of the programme needs money and I will be leaving no stone unturned to find new sources of external funding. It is also particularly pleasing for me to be back on my home patch again."