A WALKING bus and a visual art project provided a colourful launch for a scheme which invites people to get on board for a trip down memory lane.

Dave Spikey and Sheila Dibnah are some of the star names who have recalled memories of their lives in the town for the Bolton Smiles project.

The scheme, which aims to delve into Bolton's rich contemporary culture and history, launched with a walking bus event on Saturday starting in Newport Street, as well a samba band and pop-up art installations by University of Bolton students, which livened up the morning of many shoppers.

Bolton Smiles has been developed in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester ahead of the new Bolton Interchange project, which will replace the Moor Lane bus station next year.

Diana Hamilton, the project manager, said: "It is about celebrating Bolton people, and their relationship with the town and their memories."

Visitors were invited to listen to audio recordings featuring memories from the Phoenix Nights comedian as well as those of others including Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi, the Bolton Bullfrog Bernard Wrigley, and Alain Job, owner of the Cameroonian food stall Nkono in Bolton Market.

Dave speaks about watching his first film at the age of about 10 at the Royal Continental Cinema and his favourite places to go out at night, as well as his continuing love of performing in his home town.

He said: "I still love playing in Bolton; there are some great venues. The Octagon Theatre, which is nationally revered, is a brilliant space for comedy.

"It's called the Octagon as it should have eight walls. It's not, I counted them, it's got nine I think. They've really not thought it out.

"It's a really good intimate space if you've got as conversational type comedy act or a music act, but if you want a big show you go to the town hall, which is great for many reasons, but mainly because it's out magnificent town hall which sits on the front of Le Mans Crescent, which is beautiful as well."

The day also brought back memories for commuters as two historic buses, a 1956 Leyland Titan PD2/12 and a 1971 ‘jumbo’ PDR2 Atlantean, were on show as part of an art project by two University of Bolton students.

Andy Smith is creating a painting which will be placed in the Moor Lane station, featuring his interpretations of several buildings around Bolton, and Steph Shipley recorded memories of those who took the time to have a look around the old buses.

Andy said: "Some of the memories have been fascinating. One guy said he climbed out of the top window and hung on at the side, and a woman said she sometimes had trouble getting onto the bus because of how tight mini skirts were then at the time."

The art installations will continue to form a week-long pop up gallery this week.

For more information: visit boltonsmiles.co.uk