A PETITION calling for Bolton’s place in Lancashire to be restored has smashed its target of one thousand signatures.

The vote was set up by Roger Gray as a response to comments from Bolton Council leader Cliff Morris who told Tory Cllr John Walsh to “get over” the fact that Bolton is part of Greater Manchester at a recent meeting of the full council.

Cllr Walsh had put forward plans to put the words ‘Bolton, Lancashire’ on benches and street signs across the borough, but Cllr Morris told him to “get in the real world.”

Mr Gray, aged 48, read the comments in The Bolton News and decided to set up the petition, stating that if he could amass 1,000 signatures he would hand it to Cllr Walsh to present to the council.

The e-petition, entitled ‘Boltonians are Lancastrians — campaigning for Bolton’s Lancashire Heritage to be restored' — now has just short of 1,500 signatories.

The list of names will now be handed to Cllr Walsh, himself a passionate Lancastrian, on Lancashire day, which falls on November 27.

The issue of Bolton’s historic heritage has become even more prominent of late with the Chancellor George Osborne announcing this week that the borough will come under the governance of an elected mayor for the whole Greater Manchester conurbation.

The move, voted for by all 10 of the region’s council chiefs will give the region more powers over areas such as planning, housing and transport.

Mr Gray said that people who have signed the petition are also against the proposed devolution offer.

He said: “Many Boltonians are expressing their resistance to this 'United States of Manchester' being thrust on them.”

He added: “You can see from readers' responses that they aren’t happy with Cllr Morris cozying up to leaders from other authorities.”

Back in April, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Local Government, announced changes to planning rules which would allow councils to put up boundary signs marking traditional English counties.

The move would overturn the current restrictions on such action, but a decision is currently out for consultation.

Cllr Morris has previously stated that the council takes the issue seriously, but can not take action until the government’s plans become law.