THE CHILLY weather did not stop charities at the Bolton Mayor's fair having fun and raising money.

Alongside the Christmas Markets in the town centre, the Albert Halls were taken over by stalls all raising money for a different good cause.

As well as stalls there were games to play and prizes to be won, a certain bearded man dressed in red and white could also be seen on Saturday.

The Mayor of Bolton's Christmas Fair was held between 10am and 2pm on Saturday and Mayor, Cllr Roger Hayes, said: "It's been a pretty good day.

"I know the weather has put a few people off but we have seen steady business and hopefully we will have raised some money for various charities."

A group from Marie Curie including 13-year-old Oscar Lanson-Smith, who lost his dad to cancer, were there with a tombola hoping to bring their annual fundraising total to £6,500.

Oscar's dad Julian Smith died, aged 43 on Christmas Day in 2010.

When asked what he gets out of helping the charity he said: "I'm glad I can help them for how they helped me.

"That's enough for me."

Marie Curie fundraiser Roselle Gorman, aged 68, has survived cancer twice. She commented about how generous everyone in Bolton had been.

Mrs Gorman said: "It's gone very well, it was quiet at the start but it picked up and everyone's been really generous.

"Oscar has been generous too, he's won prizes on other stalls and gifted them back to us."

Families and Babies had set up a stall too, chair of the trustees Elaine Edwards agreed it had been a good day.

She said: "It's been really good, we have had quite a few people round."

The operations manager, Marie Longworth added: "We have been able to talk to people about the new health and wellbeing centre and we have had the chance to talk to some of the other charities."