HORWICH residents have been invited for a night out over the border— as the rivalry between Bolton and Chorley councils continues.

Revellers are being encouraged to attend the Chorley Live music event this weekend to see if they “prefer it” to a night out in Bolton.

But Bolton Council bosses say they are better off staying put — and invited Chorley residents to next month’s winter wonderland.

Tensions between the two authorities has been growing in recent months, beginning when Chorley Council lit up Rivington Pike as part of a business campaign.

A meeting of Horwich Town Council then received a request from a resident to consider cutting ties with Bolton and joining up with Chorley Council.

Following this, an online poll run by community group Horwich First indicated that 83 per cent of people believed Horwich could be better off leaving its big Bolton brother.

Chorley Council deputy leader Cllr Peter Wilson said: “We’re really flattered that residents in Horwich see Chorley as a place they’d rather be so we want to invite them along to see what an enjoyable time can be had here in the evenings too.

“Last year we had people from Horwich saying they had wished they had come so this is their opportunity to see what a night out in Chorley is like and see if they prefer it to a Friday or Saturday in Bolton.”

Responding, Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris pointed out that Horwich residents did not need to travel elsewhere after as they had organised a very successful street party in the town last weekend.

He added: “That was a brilliant event, which Bolton helped with and it was free, I don’t think Chorley are offering any tickets for free.

“Bolton town centre has lots of great events and with the winter wonderland coming soon we would extend an invitation to Chorley residents to come along.”

Backing Bolton’s nightlife scene, Dawn Price of the Blind Tiger venue in the town centre, said: “There is so much going on in Bolton — there are many great venues that well-known bands come to perform at and lots of different clubs.

“I can’t think of any big venues like that in Chorley — I’m not sure there is much of a scene there. There are some good Chorley-based bands, but they all come and play in Bolton.”