A SCOTTISH flag has been raised over Bolton Central Library as a sign of solidarity to the United Kingdom as Scotland decides on its future.

The Saltire will fly over the top of the building in Le Mans Crescent until the Scottish referendum, which takes place on Thursday.

Westminister has asked local authorities up and down the country to fly the flag of St Andrew in the run-up to the vote, which will see Scottish residents decide whether to become an ind-ependent nation.

Cllr Linda Thomas, deputy leader of Bolton Council, said they were happy to fly the emblem, in the hope that Scotland would opt to stay in the United Kingdom.

She said: “We continue to fly the Union Flag over the Town Hall but will fly the Scottish flag over the library and museum as a symbolic gesture like other councils."

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, and Bolton West MP Julie Hilling have both travelled to Glasgow this week to campaign for the Better Together campaign.

Ms Hilling warned that if Scotland voted in favour of independence it could have wider implications for Bolton and England.

She said: “We held a street stall and a rally in the middle of Glasgow, as well as doing some door knocks.

“I think it is incredibly close, far too close to call. I just really hope that the people in Scotland with a vote, do vote to stay with the Union.

“What is happening to the pound this week, and people being frightened to invest, shows how Scottish indep-endence would harm people who live in Bolton.

“It’s not just about Scotland, it’s an issue for all of us.”

Ainsworth resident Phil Parker lived in Scotland for almost 20 years, and said he was “100 per cent” against independence.

The farm owner, aged 62, said a split would be “far reaching and damaging”.

He added: “I feel that the break up of the Union would leave the UK, as a whole, a much lesser place, econom-ically and strategically, and we in Bolton would suffer that resultant decline with a diminished Britain.”