BOLTON this week celebrated the birth 260 years ago of arguably its most famous son, and helped create a legacy for the future.

School children’s artwork around the life of textile pioneer Samuel Crompton — made under the guidance of local artist Pete Marsh — is currently being exhibited in The Market Place.

But the venue’s new owners, the Moorgarth Group, were so impressed with the work that chief executive Tim Vaughan told organisers that the centre will run a competition to choose the best. These could then be made into large images to use as artwork in The Market Place.

“It was a great idea, and lovely to hear he felt the standard was so high,” explained Cllr Sufrana Bashir Ismail, whose brainchild the Crompton celebrations were.

There will also be a children’s competition to find “Crompton’s Invention of the Future” with cash prizes.

This is sponsored by Sainsbury’s, open to all primary pupils in Bolton, and will be judged by the Mayor, Cllr Colin Shaw, the leader of the Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, the editor-in-chief of The Bolton News, Ian Savage, and Cllr Martin Donaghy who works for Sainsbury’s.

Entry forms will be available from Monday, December 16, from The Bolton News’ office in the town centre and from Sainsburys’ customer service desk.

As well as the art exhibition, this past week there has been a Blue Badge Guide walk around the Crompton Trail.

Walkers visited miles-tones in the life of the inventor who revolution-ised the cotton industry with his Spinning Mule, and finished at Firwood Fold where he was born for tea and cake.

There was also one of the Bolton Healthy Walks around part of the same trail, and a wreath was laid on Crompton’s grave in the grounds of Bolton Parish Church on behalf of the Friends of Firwood Fold.

There will be a photography exhibition in the Crompton Place shopping centre in January by Bolton Documentary Photography which reflects the celebrations.

And this Sunday there will be a celebratory event including carol singing in the Hall i’ th’ Wood area when the new toddler play area is officially opened at 1pm.

This will be followed by Crompton-linked activities at The Greenway Centre until 5pm.

A new Crompton trail commemorative booklet with photos from celebrations is also being launched in the new year to maintain the momentum.

Cllr Bashir Ismail paid tribute to the many people “who genuinely came together to work hard to mark Crompton’s life”.

She added: “These events have reminded people just how great a man Samuel Crompton was.”