Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto could soon have a county connection if a panel of judges decide to twin Walt Disney World with a Shropshire market town.

The cartoon favourites could soon be calling Ellesmere their second home after residents entered the town for the special contest. Ellesmere is now in the running to become the official twin town of Disney’s flagship resort in Florida.

People across Britain have been invited to nominate their towns, villages and cities on the Walt Disney World website.

But Ellesmere seems to be punching above its weight after more than 4,000 visited its entries on the site to learn more about what the town has to offer.

Townsfolk are keeping their fingers crossed it could be a good omen for Ellesmere, which has eclipsed bigger urban centres in terms of page impressions.

But Ellesmere is not the only Shropshire town bidding for the association with Disney.

People in Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock and Telford have also thrown their towns’ hats into the ring for the accolade.

None have achieved the thousands of page views Ellesmere has, despite a rallying call from former Telford man Dean Churm, who is the British Consul in Orlando.

In October he pleaded with Shropshire Star readers to bang the drum for Telford’s bid – but the town’s profile has only attracted about 800 visitors.

Now people in Ellesmere want to know how the town has fared ahead of the judges’ decision, which will be announced this Monday.

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of the chamber of trade, said early indications were good because so many people have clicked on Ellesmere’s profile on the Disney website.

He said: “I hope it’s a sign that Ellesmere is streets ahead of the competition yet again.

“It would be an unusual association but also a great way of putting the town on the map.”

Visit www.waltdisneyworldtwinnedtown.co.uk

By Tom Johannsen