AN AMERICAN travel writer has taken his hat off to Bolton declaring it "the best town in England."

Surveying its architecture and the green fields surrounding the town, he declared: "Everything is so neat and tidy here."

Michael K Hayes, who was born in the UK and once actually lived in Bolton, singled out the town for praise on a whistlestop tour of the country.

Mr Hayes has written 88 travel articles for books and newspapers in the United States. Now his views on the town look set to reach a larger audience in a future article. Mr Hayes, aged 65, moved to Florida from Bolton 15 years ago and is thrilled that the town is still as "wonderful" as he remembers it.

But he has not been as impressed with other English towns he has visited.

He said: "The towns in the south have all lost their identity -- but not Bolton."

He singled out his birth county of Bedfordshire as particularly disappointing, adding: "Monuments in Luton and Dunstable are desecrated. The fountains do not work and so many shops are closed down with their windows broken.

"I am pleased Bolton has not ended up like that. Here you still have the wonderful trees I remember being planted when they built the precinct. And of course the steam engine on Oxford Street still works."

Mr Hayes moved to Bolton in 1967 from Bedfordshire and became the manager of the old Co-op that stood on Victoria Square.

He lived in Sharples and particular interests included the Bolton Electronic Organ Society, which used to meet at the Pack Horse in the centre of town where he has been staying. Mr Hayes, who still has friends in Bromley Cross, said: "On my trip around England I have stayed in 13 top hotels, but non better than the Pack Horse. The buffet is the best there is. I've never had Black pudding before. It was lovely."Another reason for popping back to Bolton was to repair a missing tooth. "It would have cost $1240 in the US to sort out. Dentistry is a lot cheaper over here -- although petrol in America is far cheaper."As a regular contributor to the Bolton Evening News in the 1970s, Mr. Hayes won the letter of the month award three times and recalls being pictured by the paper outside the Parish church.

He added: "Each time I won, I was given a calligraphy set. After the third win, I had to stop writing... I didn't want another load of pens!' Having brought his summer Stetson hat from sunny Florida, he hopes the weather will follow him -- eventually.

"'I was down in Eastbourne and it was lovely, as it was in Bedford. I hope I'm bringing the good weather up here."

Although he added he remembers the weather was something Bolton could never be proud of.

His praise for Bolton has been welcomed by civic leaders.

Bolton's Mayor, Cllr John Walsh, said: "The town is looking pristine at the moment.

"I am anxious to raise civic pride -- it is terribly important. When outsiders see Bolton at its best, it really does make you feel proud."