BOLTON'S biggest ever Food and Drink Festival kicks off today — and the tens of thousands of visitors set to descend on the town will be entertained throughout.

Celebrity chefs and an artisan food and drink market boasting more than 180 stalls will be the centrepiece of the festival's 10th birthday celebration.

Food lovers browsing the stalls will be entertained throughout by bands, street performers and live demonstrations from celebrity chefs including John Torode and James Martin.

Keith Davies, the council's director of development and regeneration, said Bolton was ready for the off — saying the festival is "the best" of its kind in the UK.

Mr Davies said: "You really get a flavour now of the size of the festival and the buzz about the town.

"It is really good to see the stalls getting set up. It will be bigger and better than ever.

"Thinking back to when we started this 10 years ago, it is brilliant to see how the event has grown.

"It is also a boost for other traders in Bolton, with businesses at the Market Place reporting 10 per cent increases in trade last year."

Debbie Halls-Evans, the Bolton-born winner of television show The Taste, showcased her taster menu yesterday in the Market Place Vaults at a pre-festival event.

She will wow food fans on all four days with her taster menu, and guests were given a showcase, with a pea puree on an edible spoon, duck pate in pastry, Italian meatballs, and chocolate mousse.

Ms Halls-Evans said: "For me it's brilliant to be back here for the second year running. I'm a Bolton girl and I know how important this festival is to the town.

"And also to be down in the Market Place Vaults — it's something that nobody has seen before.

"I've got a five-dish taster menu, and a sit-down three-course gala dinner. It's going to be a fun weekend."

Also on show yesterday in Victoria Square were performers Gino & Gino and Liquorice Ladies.

The stilts street artists stepped out to get a feel for the event, with the trio set to appear from 11am to 5pm on each day.

Sponsored by Aldi, the 2015 festival will include demonstrations from double Michelin star chef Michael Caines, Saturday Kitchen's James Martin, Lisa Faulkner and MasterChef judge John Torode.

Cbeebies presenter Katy Ashworth will return to entertain younger fans throughout the four days while the birthday party will be celebrated with a special afternoon tea on Saturday.

While visitors browse through the various delicacies on offer, they will be entertained by local acts and Edinburgh fringe performers.

Bridie The Tea Lady, the Liquorice Ladies, Circo Rum Ba Ba and the ever popular Ski Band will perform.

The street party on Sunday is set to feature Pedro Tochus from the fringe, Icarus-Roo'd giant kangaroos and The Shifting Sands Theatre Company.

Nigel Cartwright, one half of Gino & Gino, said: "This one event so vast and the people are so friendly and genuine. We work all over but the Bolton one is definitely the best one we do."

A fantastic line up of bands and solo artists complete the entertainment.

Blackburn's ‘New York Tourists’ will perform as well as Leigh band Jeramiah Ferrari.

Limited tickets for the celebrity chef demonstrations are on sale from the festival merchandise point in Victoria Square.