While the crowdfunding bid to get Big Ben to ‘bong for Brexit’ struggles to gain traction , Bolton will have no such problem after the Council confirmed its plans to ‘celebrate’ leaving the European Union.

At 11pm on Friday January 31, a bell will chime in the town to signal the occasion.

In addition, Bolton Town Hall will be lit up in the Union Flag colours of red, white and blue, while the Union Flag will also fly on every single civic building and civic flagpole across the borough.

The decision was confirmed at Wednesday night’s full council meeting after UKIP councillor Sean Hornby raised the question with leader Coun David Greenhalgh.

Coun Hornby said the question 'had been a long time coming but is here at last' - after 58pc of people in Bolton voted to leave during the referendum in 2016.

The Little Lever and Darcy Lever councillor asked Cllr Greenhalgh to ensure that the Union Flag would fly over the town hall and that at 11pm, the town hall bell will chime 'to celebrate us leaving the European Union'.

Coun Greenhalgh responded: “What a good idea. Yes, is the short answer.

“We will go a little bit further and ensure the union colours of red, white and blue are displayed on the front of the town hall on the evening itself.”

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged people to crowdfund the £500,000 needed to get Big Ben to ring out for Brexit but efforts have not materialised.

Coun Greenhalgh confirmed that although a bell would ring in Bolton, he could not confirm exactly how this would be done at the moment due to negotiations.

He added: “In regards to bells, we will ring a bell. We are in negotiations about what that actually means with the current structural issues we have at the front of the town hall and the limited array of bells we have on offer.

“We are in talks to absolutely make sure this historic moment is marked.

"Not in any form that’s seen as gloating but to celebrate a historic moment for this country and a moment of optimism, pride in our nation, and pride in our flag as we move forward into a new historic era."