A BUTTERFLY breeder has been given the go-ahead to release hundreds of Red Admirals in the town centre.

Breeder Ray Sandiford, from Breightmet, will release around 300 butterflies outside the town hall on Sunday in a bid to raise awareness about the plight of the creatures, which are in decline, and to encourage youngsters to get involved in their conservation.

Children will be able to go along and put their names into a box for the chance to be one of the lucky six who will be picked at random by the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Roger Hayes.

The organisers will arrive at 1.30pm and the youngsters can start to enter the draw at 2pm.

The butterflies will be released at 2.15pm and the children will be able to feed the creatures with some banana.

Flyers will be handed out in a bid to inform people who they can help prevent the decline of butterflies.

Mr Sandiford points out two ‘simple thing’ that can be done: leaving a patch of nettles in gardens as a habitat and leaving ripe fruit outside for food. For more information, go to the Big Bolton Butterfly Release Facebook page.