CELEBRITY wine experts Oz Clarke and Kate Goodman were given a 'rowdy' Bolton welcome during their star turns at this year's food and drink festival.

It was a first time at the festival for both Oz and Kate, who held wine-tasting masterclasses inside the refurbished Victorian Vaults at the Market Place on day two.

Both TV stars said they had a great time meeting the Bolton public, who seemed to enjoy their sessions - as well as the plonk on offer.

Oz was very impressed with the setting of the Victorian vaults, he said: "It is fantastic to see this wonderful 19th Century place, the type of thing that made Bolton what it was, found again, loved again and brought back into the 21st Century.

"It was a very lively crowd today and they were quite challenging too - they didn't just sit on their backsides and say 'right you are the expert', no they fired back.

"They were a rowdy lot and I checked the spitoons afterwards and they didn't seem to be very full"

He added: "I had a quick look at the festival itself at lunch time and it was absolutely heaving.

"And I really like the atmosphere down in the vaults, its really lively - I think it is going to be really important in reviving the town."

Fellow expert Kate was equally impressed with her welcome from the people of the borough.

She said: "It was really good fun, I love it when people just think a bit about what they are drinking and just enjoy it.

"Wine is there to be enjoyed and these lot were definitely enjoying it today."

She was equally impressed with some of the wines on offer from festival sponsor Aldi.

She added: "Some of them are excellent, I am actually an independent retailer and i'm amazed that they can do some of these wines at those prices."

On the festival itself, Kate said: "I think it is brilliant that so many people come out to support it, try new things, support the small producers at the festival, it is amazing."