Chorley's invite to US President

The President has been invited to Chorley

A Lancashire town has invited US President George Bush to visit during his trip to the UK next year.

Chorley Council and local historians claim there is a link between the Pilgrim Fathers and the town, and want to share the discovery with Mr Bush.

Pilgrim Father Myles Standish, who is commemorated every Thanksgiving Day by children who dress up as him, was from the town, the historians claim.

It is commonly believed he originally came from the Isle of Man.

We want the President to be the first to see our findings Ed Fisher, St Laurence Group

The St Laurence Group, formed by local historians, church groups, Chorley Borough Council and the Chorley Partnership, claims it has credible evidence of Standish's Lancashire connections.

Group spokesman Ed Fisher said: "We now have firm proof based on local land documents and DNA tests that Myles Standish was not a Manx man, as commonly thought.

"We are keen to ensure that most Americans will get the message as to Myles' family line as being part of the Standish of Duxbury family.

"That's why we want the President.. to be the first to see our findings that will send all Americans back to the classroom to re-teach the Pilgrim story.

"Myles was a 'Lanky' with a shady past."

American children dress up as Standish to celebrate Thanksgiving

The Pilgrim Fathers left England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 and crossed the Atlantic to reach the shores of the New World.

One of those on board was Myles Standish, a mercenary who had fought with Queen Elizabeth I's army in Holland. He led the exploratory missions to Cape Cod.

Next year is the 350th anniversary of the writing of his will which claimed several lands in Lancashire, including parts or Ormskirk, Burscough and Croston as well as the Isle of Man.

Local historians point out that this was also the name of an area of marsh land near Croston.

"We are not saying there is one document that is going to prove everything but we believe the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong."