TWO "friendly rivals" have joined forces in a venture that aims to bring American tourists to the North.

Jack Bailey and Mike Haslam both run minibus operations in Bolton and Bury, with school contracts their main source of income.

But a chance remark from Mr Haslam has led to the pair becoming partners in the Bolton-based firm www.northerntoursonline.co.uk that arranges 14-day tours of the North-west for American visitors.

Mr Haslam said: "In 2004, while I was collecting some clients from Manchester airport, a group of Americans approached me for directions.

"They were on a sightseeing tour but were driving south to the capital.

"I told them there was a lot more of historical interest up here and, if they ever returned to England, then to give me a call.

"This started me thinking, and I wondered if any tour company was covering the historical and cultural aspect of North-west England.

"One of my competitors in the minibus business was Jack Bailey, and we often talked of other areas of business linked to minibuses."

The two Horwich-based businessmen put together a 14-day tour of Northern England covering attractions such as Roman Chester and Viking York.

Mr Bailey said: "We decided to aim our company at the American market knowing how they love our history."

In June last year, Mr Haslam received a phone call from one of the visiting Americans he'd met in 2004, who was also the publishing director of a gay travel magazine based in Florida.

Mr Haslam said: "He remembered my chance remark about the North-west, so we decided to advertise in his magazine."

Mr Bailey said that the response from the Florida advertisements has been so good that the company "should be running its first tours by mid-March".

The two businessmen's families will be helping out with the venture, taking responsibility for bookings and administration.

Mr Bailey and Mr Haslam will still continue to compete with each other on school transport with their own respective businesses, Bailey's Executive Minibuses and Mike Haslam's LDV Travel.