LEIGH is throwing out a warm welcome to visitors (writes BRIAN GOMM).

Colourful new signs recording Leigh's proud past and pointing to a bright future have been given the go-ahead for main approach roads to the town.

The signs are the brainchild of Bedford/Astley Cllr John Lea and The Journal has backed his scheme by coming up with the £1,500 needed to make them.

Wigan Highways Committee has approved the idea after Leigh councillors backed their colleague's idea to recognise Leigh's rich industrial and sporting heritage.

Cllr Brian Jarvis, who pushed for the signs at last week's highways meeting, said: "Johnny Lea deserves praise. The design is marvellous.

"We can all take some civic pride in them.

"Leigh is a large town and although it might come under Wigan, it has its own proud identity and heritage which Leigh councillors were adamant should be recognised in its own right."

The signs will go up in Manchester Road, Warrington Road, Slag Lane, Wigan Road, Leigh Road and Newtion Road at points marking the old borough boundary.

The signs will read "Welcome to Leigh" and include the Leigh Borough coat of arms, the Wigan Metropolitan Borough coat of arms and depict mine, mill, canal and rugby scenes plus the Spinning Jenny emblem and Bickershaw Band. CL

Pictured are Cllr Lea (right) with, from the left: Cllrs Anne Turnock, Brian Thomas, Mark Hale and Brian Jarvis.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.