A FESTIVAL celebrating one of America's founding fathers, believed to have hailed from Chorley, attracted more than 2,000 people, with visitors from as far as New Zealand.

The five-day Myles Standish Festival, organised by St Laurence Historical Society and Chorley Borough Council, included talks, walks, an exhibition, theatre and other events, many of which set out to demonstrate the links between Myles and Chorley.

It opened with an exhibition Chorley's Pilgrim Father? commemorating 350 years since Myles Standish made his last will and testament, which is dated March 7, 1655. The will is a significant piece of the evidence that ties him to the local area.

Standish was captain of the Mayflower, which sailed in 1620. He is recognised as one of the founders of America where Myles Standish is a household name. There is even a 110ft statue dedicated to him in Duxbury, Massachusetts, believed to be named after Duxbury, Chorley.

But this side of the Atlantic, the Isle of Man has laid claim to him, and part of the weekend festival aimed to set the record straight, and reclaim him for Chorley.

Ed Fisher, festival project manager, said: "From recent research I'm convinced that Myles came from Lancashire, and probably from Chorley.

"To prove this conclusively we will need to get permission to open the burial vault in St Laurence's church and with the help of DNA solve a 350 year-old mystery."

Other events included a play, The Courtship of Myles Standish, performed by the Spartan Community Theatre and an American themed concert by Chorley Guild Singers.

Chris Mellor, the council's leisure and cultural chief, recognised the impact the historical link could have for the town, in cultural and economic terms. He said: "We are planning other events to mark the 350 years since Myles' death in October 2006 and in the meantime we hope to perform the play in local schools and display the exhibition at various venues."

The festival culminated with two services, first in puritan style which was given the added dimension of the officials of the church and many of the congregation wearing period costume and finally a high mass featuring the combined choirs of the town's churches.