IF I remember rightly the idea for a French connection came from the Leigh side of the borough...via the French Circle at the Atherton Centre.

It's now 10 years since the Metro link with Angers was made, and this week the borough is celebrating a decade of development and friendship with the town.

There's a week long exhibition, public talk, official reception, the unveiling of a sculpture etc.

And the delegation from the Loire Valley beautyspot, staying for four days, were due to meet the Mayor, Coun Sam Little, on Wednesday.

They may be staying with families in this area, but the party schedule is based entirely on Wigan and includes trips to the Lake District and Belle Vue Stadium.

So what's wrong with Leigh? The only look-in we seem to get in is that the Mayor is from Hindsford.

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