A LIVE video link between Ulverston – birthplace of Stan Laurel – and the American town where Oliver Hardy was born is to be a highlight of the 2016 international convention of the Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy worldwide appreciation society.

More than 200 of the duo’s fans from across the globe will descend on Ulverston from today (Wednesday) until Sunday to honour the town’s most famous son and his stage and film buddy. The visitors will include fans from Harlem.

On the final night of the convention, Ulverston's Coronation Hall will link up live with Oliver Hardy's birthplace, Harlem in Georgia.

There will be an exchange of civic gifts to mark the friendship between the two towns and the Mayor of Ulverston Cllr Mark Wilson will join with Mayor Bobby Culpepper in Harlem to address the gathering in Ulverston.

The video call will also be streamed live via Youtube. Ulverston Town Clerk Jayne Kendall trialled the link this week.

She explained: “We made contact with Harlem earlier in the year to co-ordinate our joint activity and this week I got the chance to speak to some of the city hall staff ‘face to face’ in the video link.

‘Ulverston and Harlem in Georgia are the only locations in the world which have Laurel and Hardy Museums, and we are both hugely proud of our comedy legends.

"There is still an enormous affection for Laurel and Hardy, not just from older fans but from a whole new generation of younger people who appreciate their comic genius. The town is hugely looking forward to welcoming the convention members, which will include some of the civic team from Harlem.”

Ulverston Brewing Company is producing a special beer to commemorate the event, alongside its range of ales inspired by the comic duo, and each attendee at the convention will receive a bottle of the special brew.