THE Mayor of Horwich has continued his mission to forge links in the USA with a visit to the New England town of Bolton.

Earlier this month, The Bolton News reported that Cllr Richard Silvester had travelled to a small cul-de-sac in Texas named Horwich — meeting local people and sharing information about its namesake in Bolton.

Now the Horwich mayor has followed up the visit with a trip to the town of Bolton in Connecticut after establishing links with residents there.

Cllr Silvester, who financed both trips personally, came up with the idea of reaching out to the people of Bolton, Connecticut, in 2010.

Earlier this year, he welcomed thirty students, staff and parents from Bolton High School to Bolton, where they enjoyed a visit to Rivington and Blackrod High School to create a friendship agreement before visiting the town hall.

Cllr Silvester then decided to cross the Atlantic himself to further cement the relationship with the New England town.

Bolton in Connecticut has a population of 5,000 and was named after Bolton in Lancashire in 1720 by settlers who travelled from the borough to the new world.

During his trip, Cllr Silvester, who represents the Horwich North East ward on Bolton Council, met with civic leaders and employees of the town council and was invited to cheer on the high school’s cross country running team, the Bolton Bulldogs.

He said: “They believe that this was the first ever meeting between civic leaders of the two Boltons to have taken place and they were especially delighted that this meeting happened on the 100th anniversary of their Bolton Town Hall, which is a beautiful building.”

He added: “They are very proud that their town is named after our Bolton and have a brass etching of our Bolton Town Hall hanging in their town hall.”

Bolton, Connecticut, will celebrate the 300th birthday of its creation in 2020 and it is hoped that the two schools can have their friendship formalised in time for that celebration.

Students from Bolton High School in Connecticut are expected to return to their namesake town in 2015 or 2016.

Cllr Silvester added: “The people of Bolton are thoroughly nice and welcoming and I would encourage anyone who is travelling through New England to call in and see them as they will be delighted to meet you.”

Bolton, Connecticut

Small, rural town in Tolland County in Connecticut.

Population, according to 2010 census, stands at 4,986

Incorporated in 1720, Bolton is governed by a town meeting

The town stretches over an area of 14.7 square miles

It is rumoured that George Washington stayed in Bolton in 1781

Bolton, Lancashire

Large industrial town in north west England - arguably the largest town in Europe

Population of the metropolitan borough is 276,800

Goverened by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, which was formed in 1974

The borough's area is 53.98 square miles

The 7th Earl of Derby was executed in Bolton in October, 1651