BOLTON is fast becoming a second home to the Ambassador for Children's Culture and Education from China, Jack Zhang.

Mr Zhang was in the borough this week for his annual visit to the town to strengthen links between Bolton and China.

He visited All Saints CE Primary School and St James' CE High School, both in Farnworth.

During a previous visit in 2014 Mr Zhang organised a competition for children in China and Bolton to design stamps, which are now in circulation in China as limited editions.

Now he is planning to write a book based on his experiences and the people he has met since he started coming over about seven years ago.

Mr Zhang said: "Bolton is very welcoming community. I want to put my experiences of Bolton in a book."

"I have met with schools as well as Cllr Cliff Morris and Margaret Asquith."

Mr Zhang also meets with businesses in the town to expand trade.

He said: "We organised the stamp competition as something practical — I am a stamp collector myself.

"I also have taken children from Bolton to China to see the Great Wall of China."

Councillors say Mr Zhang's links will help to expand cultural opportunities for children while opening up more business opportunities for industry in Bolton.

Cllr Jean Gillies said: "I think having Jack visit is brilliant, he is interested in how children here are taught and schools here how children are taught.

"Even though he is from an affluent area, schools there do not have a science lab, so he can take that back. For children and businesses they can learn more about the culture and see how things are done in China."

The link between China and Bolton can be traced back to when pieces from Bolton's world famous Egyptology collection were sent on tour to the Far East.

Cllr Noel Spencer, hosted Mr Zhang when he was Mayor of Bolton.

He said: "Jack has organised exchange visits and he has many friends in Bolton."