THE Queen has an historical link with Bolton which could boost the town's chance of becoming a city next year.

There is extensive evidence proving Queen Elizabeth II is a direct descendant of William de Radcliffe, a past owner of the historic Smithills Hall.

And historians are now claiming that the find rules out any suggestion that the town does not have a link with the Royal Family -- an accusation many believe led to the failure of the town's last city status bid.

De Radcliffe inherited Smithills Hall and its estate from the Hulton family in 1335. Among those descended from him are the Queen and Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

Lord Lucan, missing since the 1970s, is another well-known face with a blood line to De Radcliffe.

And so is His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Patron of the Friends of Smithills Hall.

The extensive family tree is detailed in a manuscript currently on display behind glass at Smithills Hall.

David Mills, company secretary of the Smithills Hall Park Trust, said: "Although no member of the Royal Family is thought to have visited Smithills Hall, the blood lines are there nonetheless.

"It's something we tell all of our visitors and those from America in particular think it's wonderful.

"There aren't that many houses in Britain with humble beginnings which have such strong Royal connections."

He said the Royal ties were important to the town and should be borne in mind when deciding on Britain's newest city.

Last year, Bolton lost out to Brighton and Hove, Inverness and Wolverhampton in the bid to become a city for the Millennium. In 1992, Sunderland pipped the town to the post.

The next competition coincides with the Queen's Golden Jubilee and it is thought highlighting links with Her Majesty can only be beneficial.

A leaked Home Office memo last year described Bolton as "lacking in royal associations and history".

Mr Mills said: "Bolton is a warm and splendid town. We at Smithills Hall are most proud of our Royal connections and totally back the bid for city status."