DOZENS of Boltonians are joining in a woman's campaign to renovate a memorial to her literary grandfather.

Shirley Currie, from Blackpool, says she has been inundated with phone calls and letters from people in Bolton who have special memories or tales of her grandfather, Lancashire dialect writer Allen Clarke.

Bolton-born Mr Clarke, who wrote the successful Teddy Ashton's Journal, had a windmill in Blackpool dedicated to him after his death in 1935.

But Little Marton Mill fell into disrepair and Mrs Currie has been mounting a campaign to get it restored.

After her story appeared in the BEN she received dozens of messages of support from Bolton people.

She said: "I can't believe it. The phone hasn't stopped ringing, and already I have struck up some good friendships from it.

"Several people have told me little anecdotes they have been told about when my grandfather was young.

"Everyone has been so warm and friendly."

Shirley was delighted last week when council workers erected scaffolding around the mill ready to spruce it up with a lick of paint.

But she is still hoping to persuade the council to open the building as a museum dedicated to her grandfather and get a blue heritage plaque put up on the outside.

In the meantime she is planning a visit to Bolton which will include a trip to Teddy Ashton's Well at Belmont. DOZENS of Boltonians are joining a woman's campaign to renovate a memorial to her literary grandfather.

Shirley Currie, from Blackpool, says she has been inundated with phone calls and letters from people in Bolton who have special memories or tales of her grandfather, Lancashire dialect writer Allen Clarke.

Bolton-born Mr Clarke, who wrote the successful Teddy Ashton's Journal, had a windmill in Blackpool dedicated to him after his death in 1935.

But Little Marton Mill fell into disrepair and Mrs Currie has been mounting a campaign to get it restored.

After her story appeared in the BEN she received dozens of messages of support from Bolton people.

She said: "I can't believe it. The phone hasn't stopped ringing, and already I have struck up some good friendships from it.

"Several people have told me little anecdotes about when my grandfather was young.

"Everyone has been so warm and friendly."

Shirley was delighted last week when council workers erected scaffolding around the mill ready to spruce it up with a lick of paint.

But she is still hoping to persuade the council to open the building as a museum dedicated to her grandfather and get a blue heritage plaque put up on the outside.

In the meantime she is planning a visit to Bolton which will include a trip to Teddy Ashton's Well at Belmont.