One of Bolton's famous sons paid a heartwarming tribute to his hometown on the radio this week.

Vernon Kay, 49, waxed lyrical about Bolton ahead of P!NK's two concerts at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Kay described the town as being like the 80s TV sitcom 'Cheers', where "you can pull up a chair and anyone will start a conversation". 

He introduced the subject after he played P!NK’s recent single, ‘Runaway’.

Kay said: “P!INK is starting her UK tour in Bolton. Now I don’t know whether you know about Bolton, but apparently, rumour on the street has it, that Bolton is a darn fine place!

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful town. It’s a big town with lots of people who like to say hello.

“It’s a little bit like – if Bolton was a TV programme, it would be Cheers. Remember Cheers? Where you can pull up a chair and anyone will start a conversation.

“That to me, is Bolton in a nutshell.”

He added: “If you’re going tonight, enjoy that, it’s absolutely going to be amazing.”

Last month, Kay replaced radio veteran Ken Bruce on BBC Radio 2's mid-morning slot, who helmed the programme for 31 years. 

A host of famous faces wished him luck as he began the show on May 15, including fellow Boltonian Radio 2 DJs Sara Cox and Mark Radcliffe, as well as national news reporter Clive Myrie and Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt.

To listen back to Vernon's show, visit BBC Sounds at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds