TORY MP Tom Sackville has launched a new battle to make sure Bolton remains on local motorway signs.

The MP for Bolton West is seeking an urgent meeting with Roads Minister John Watts to protest at the disappearance of directions to Bolton.

Mr Sackville has been campaigning for several years to keep Bolton on motorway signs.

In 1994 he demanded a meeting with Mr Watts over plans to reduce the number of times Bolton was mentioned on motorway gantry signs.

Now, despite past protests, Mr Sackville said Bolton had disappeared again.

He said: "I thought we had it all sorted out.

"Now I find, on returning from my evening swim in Blackpool, that there is nothing to show anyone coming down the M6, who does not know the area, that they must branch left onto the M61 to get to Bolton.

"The first mention of Bolton is long after the turn-off. Manchester and Leeds are indicated and I understand Blackburn is to be added on completion of the M65."

Mr Sackville could accept the mention of Manchester and Leeds "as they are the principle destinations for many people using the M61" but he added: "so is Bolton".

He said: "Why should a major commercial and industrial centre with a population of a quarter of a million disappear off the map in favour of a place in the middle of the moors half the size. It makes no sense."

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