A BOLTON Councillor has congratulated his friend, the comedian Ken Dodd on receiving a knighthood.

Cllr Sean Hornby, councillor for Little Lever and Darcy Lever and leader of Bolton’s UKIP group, is a long-term friend of the Merseyside comic, who was handed the new title in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

Cllr Hornby has now written to Sir Ken, stating: “Your knighthood must be one of your greatest achievements in your 60-plus years as a professional entertainer.”

In his letter Cllr Hornby points out that Mr Dodd’s second ever professional show was at the Albert Halls in Bolton and suggested that he could perhaps return to the famous building, which is set to re-open soon.