OVER the last two weeks I have spent some time with the young citizens of Bolton, and the experience has led me to believe our future is safer than the national media would have us believe.

At the Greater Manchester Youth Games, over 4,000 young athletes - more than at the Commonwealth Games - competed in the true spirit of sport and respect for each other.

All ages, able-bodied and disabled, from all the towns of Greater Manchester, brought forth great admiration from those adults who supported the event - who also shed quite a few tears of pride at the young peoples obvious joy at just competing.

The Bolton Schools music Festival, so splendidly covered by the Bolton Evening News each night last week, highlighted the achievements of more than 2,000 Bolton schoolchildren from reception class to secondary school age.

The joy of the children in giving the concerts and the dedication of their teachers was a totally uplifting experience for the hundreds of parents and relatives who proudly supported them.

Lastly, over the weekend the Bolton Lads and Girls Club hosted the FA National Disabled Football Festival on their Hacken Lane pitches.

The event, which took place over two days, welcomed 1,500 competitors from all over the country. The skill displayed by the competitors, many suffering multiple loss of limbs, was quite astounding.

That Bolton should have been selected by the FA to host the event speaks volumes for the abilities of the Lads and Girls Club, as well as the hospitality that Boltonians naturally offer to all visitors.

In total, last week in Bolton 7,500 young people displayed all the sporting, social and humanitarian qualities that you could wish to see in a future generation.

Their sporting pledge was Let me win, but, if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. All who witnessed their effort and commitment, together with a tolerance and acceptance of less able athletes or musicians, could only be left inspired and confident of our future.

Cllr Frank R White JP

Mayor of Bolton