WHEN year five pupils at Eagley Junior School received a letter from the Mayor of Bolton asking them to help him with a “very special project” — they could not wait to get started.

Bolton’s first citizen, Cllr Colin Shaw, asked them each to design a visitors’ leaflet about Bromley Cross after hearing how “clever and creative” they were from their teacher Sophie Barclay.

Miss Barclay had asked Cllr Shaw to write the letter to the children as to help inspire them to go that extra mile with their designs.

Once they had finished the project Cllr Shaw and his wife, Mayoress, Dee Shaw, visited the class to have a look at the completed designs.

Miss Barclay said: “The topic was Bromley Cross and I wanted the children to design and write leaflets about the area where they live.

“To inspire them to think up extra special ideas I rang up the Mayor’s office and asked whether Cllr Shaw would be able to send a letter to the pupils asking them to design him the leaflets for visitors who come to Bolton.

“He was more than happy to do so, and even offered to come to the school and see their final designs.

“He came along with his wife Dee and he said he was very impressed with their hard work and said how much he enjoyed reading them.

“He then stayed for a question and answer session about being a Mayor. The children really enjoyed it.”