BOLTON came out fighting today against the stinging criticism dished out in a Yorkshire newspaper.

The town's civic pride was dented by a series of negative jibes written by a travel writer from across the Pennines.

As reported in the BEN, writer Stephen McClarence penned the downbeat article after making a day trip from Leeds.

Now he is being challenged to show his face in town again - and get it right this time!

Today the town's figurehead, Mayor of Bolton Cllr Peter Birch hit back. He said: "When did he visit Bolton? Was it during the black-out during the last war?

"Obviously he's not toured the whole of Bolton. If he had he would have seen highlights like Moss Bank Park, Smithills Coaching House and the Middlebrook development with its first class leisure facilities."

And Cllr Birch has thrown down the gauntlet to Mr McClarence, challenging him to make another visit to Bolton.

Cllr Birch said: "If he wants to be properly informed about Bolton he should visit me in the Mayor's parlour and we shall put him right - in a friendly way of course!

"People travel from around the north for our top class facilities and our famous friendly Bolton welcome. When Bolton folk visit Leeds I'm sure they are courteous, not critical."

Bolton town hall came under heavy fire in the critical report in the Yorkshire Post's weekend magazine. The article said Leeds was bigger and better.

The showpiece Market Place shopping centre was also targeted.

But Market Place manager Rod Neasham brushed off the attack which dubbed his centre as "Toy Town architecture."

Mr Neasham said: "The Market Place won architectural awards when it was built. I have worked in a shopping centre in Leeds and I can assure everyone that there is nothing there which is a patch on our Market Place."

Mr McClarence's article did include brief words of praise for the Market Hall and the aquarium.

And Bolton's tourism chiefs have pointed out that shopping - the jewel in Bolton's crown - got a much more positive review from Brian Pedley writing in the Daily Telegraph.

Not all Yorkshire folk have a downbeat view of Bolton. The winner of a weekend holiday break to our town at a holiday exhibition held in Leeds was delighted.

Margaret Clough from Otley, West Yorkshire, may even extend her stay in our town.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.