SPECULATION is mounting over who will be Bolton's Mayor for the Millennium.

The town's first citizen for 1999-2000 will be chosen at a Bolton Council meeting on February 3.

But already town hall gossip is rife about who will go down in history as Bolton's Millennium Mayor.

The longest-serving councillors who have never been Mayor are at the top of the list.

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, with 25 years' service has been first in line for many years, but has always declined it and preferred to stay in his present role.

And he said yesterday that he was still not interested in taking on the prestigious role.

Controversial Labour Cllr Peter Johnston is next in line. Cllr Johnston, once famous for wearing shorts at council meetings, has also declined the civic role many times.

But when the BEN approached him yesterday, he said: "Some people have asked me to consider the idea. While I haven't ruled it out completely, it would be difficult with work commitments."

The next names on the list are Labour's education committee chairman, Cllr Don Eastwood, and Cllr Laurie Williamson, who have both turned it down in the past.

There are then a number of councillors with 18 years' service, including Breightmet Cllr Donald Grime, Cllr Guy Harkin, deputy council leader, and Blackrod Cllr John Monaghan.

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