THE man in charge of keeping HS2 — the controversial high speed train link between the North and the South — on track was in Bolton last night.

Simon Kirby — chief executive of HS2 — was at the University of Bolton's Centre for Islamic Finance to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the scheme to an invited business audience.

His hour-long speech was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Kirby's visit followed the announcement from George Osborne that the government would press ahead with plans for a high speed rail link between Manchester and the North East.