A BLUEPRINT for bids to regenerate some of the poorest parts of Greenwich has been drawn up.

Six wards in the borough are eligible for European funding to boost economic prospects following years of serious industrial decline and unemployment.

Across London, £158m is up for grabs over the next seven years from the European Structural Fund.

Greenwich can now proceed with two major bids totalling £10.4m which have been backed by councillors.

At the former Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich, a £5.9m bid will aim to create a new Greenwich Heritage centre and extend the Royal Artillery Firepower museum.

It includes building a new section of parkland and improving the Arsenal river pier.

The second bid pins hopes of a £4.5m investment in the White Hart Triangle a 35-acre site in Plumstead which has been identified as a potentially major site for new industry.

The Bexley ward of Thamesmead East is also eligible for a share of the fund.

Local bids will be channelled through the Woolwich and North Bexley partnership so businesses and community groups can work with councils in agreeing a final shortlist.

The six Greenwich wards eligible for the funding are Arsenal, Charlton, Eynsham, Glyndon, St Mary's and Thamesmead Moorings.