CHILDREN from Bolton Lads and Girls Clubs took the role of Sherlock Holmes style sleuths for a night as part of a sleepover event.

Nearly 50 children aged from eight to 12 took part in the fun investigation which tasked the youngsters with trying to find out who stole the cookies.

They were given profiles of each suspect, and staff at the club set up different rooms as the houses of the suspects, with children having to go to each room and ask questions.

They also had to keep their eyes peeled to look for a number of clues that were dotted around the club, including fictional stories from The Bolton News.

After compiling all of their evidence, the children had to present their evidence to the chief inspector.

Once the mystery had been solved, the youngsters had some well earned sleep and swapped their torches for pyjamas and sleeping bags.

Leon Crosby, the junior club leader, who took on the role of the chief inspector and organised the event, said: "We have had a few sleepovers in the past but this was by far the best one.

"The young people really got into the activities and were passionate and determined to figure out who stole the cookies, I think we have some future detectives amongst us.”

One group of detectives successfully managed to put together the cryptic clues of one suspect, Nanny Care, to reveal she had an identical twin who was also a suspect, and after ruling the other five suspects out they predicted her twin sister stole the cookies.

Chanelle Montgomery, aged nine, who attended the sleepover, said: “The sleepover was awesome, I really enjoyed searching round the club for all the clues.

"I suspected Nanny Care all along because she was trying to help us then when we got her clues about her twin it was obvious.

"Sleeping over at the club was funny and weird, I slept on the soft mats we normally play on. I can’t wait for the next one!”