A DUNFERMLINE councillor has called on residents to support his campaign to have the town twinned with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Councillor Joe Rosiejak believes the places have obvious links, in particular famous Fife philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and General John Forbes.

Fife Council is reviewing the region’s twin towns.

Mr Rosiejak said, “At the moment we are reviewing our links with other places.

“Some have outlived their usefulness, however I would like to encourage proper dialogue with Pittsburgh.”

“In Pittsburgh there is the Carnegie Mellon University and we now have a Carnegie College in Dunfermline.

“Andrew Carnegie was brought up in Dunfermline before he emigrated to Pittsburgh, where he made his fortune.

“As a boy, he was kicked out of the Glen, and then when he made his millions he gave Pittencrieff Park to the people of Dunfermline.

“John Forbes was born and brought up here, in Pittencrieff House, before he went to America and started the state of Pennsylvania.

“He saved Pittsburgh from the French.

“That’s why people have been saying to me, ‘why don’t we have any links between the city of Dunfermline and Pittsburgh’?”

Carnegie emigrated from Scotland in 1848 at the age of 13, and went on to found Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Steel Company.

Forbes was born in 1707 and in 1758 took over Fort Duquesne, burned by the French before they fled, and ordered a new fort, Fort Pitt, be built.

He named the fort after William Pitt the Elder and founded a settlement, which went on to become modern day Pittsburgh.

Mr Rosiejak has invited Dunfermline residents to write to him with feedback about his twinning proposal.