RECORD visitor numbers at the weekend’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival smashed last year’s turnout by almost 30,000.

Council chiefs have hailed the food extravaganza a resounding success, with visitors travelling from as far as Australia to sample the delights on display.

Now in its eight year, there were 80 stalls serving up food and drink from around the globe as well as live cookery demonstrations from some of the most famous television chefs in the business, with coach parties bringing visitors from the North East, Hull, Huddersfield, Wakefield, North Wales, Lancashire and Warrington, with one couple even travelling from Victoria in Australia.

Organisers said this year’s addition of the children’s food and fun emporium at Crompton Place also proved a hit.

There were almost 130,000 visitors at this year’s event according to official figures, compared to last year’s total of 102,000 — which was itself a record breaker.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris, said: “We are delighted with the visitor figures, which show it has been a massive success.

“We have had great feedback from all the chefs who provided cooking demonstrations and the feedback from traders was really positive, with many of them having to call for extra stock as their stalls were so popular.

“Visitors to the stalls seemed to enjoy their visit, which has a really positive impact on the town.

“The children’s emporium, which was new this year was also really popular, with queues for all the activities.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the festival, from the chefs to the traders and also all the visitors who came and made it an amazing success.”