BOLTON’S food festival has become the envy of neighbouring towns and cities after it attracted almost 100,000 visitors last year, say town hall bosses.

Keith Davies, Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration, said the popularity of the annual festival, which will return for the August Bank Holiday weekend, is one of Bolton’s biggest success stories.

Bolton College, in Deane Road, hosted the local launch of the four-day extravaganza, following the official launch last month at Harvey Nichols, the Manchester department store which is sponsoring the event.

Justine Forrest, winner of the popular ITV 1 lifestyle series Michael Winner’s Dining Stars, created an easy-tomake fish and chicken paella and a banana loaf at Thursday evening’s event.

The festival, which began in 1995, this year includes regular celebrity favourites James Martin and Michael Caines, as well as Great British Bake Off judges Mary Berry and Paul Holly wood, along with French chef heartthrob Jean- Christophe Novelli.

Mr Davies said: “The festival is about bringing visitors in and giving our community things to celebrate that are unique about Bolton. Last year attracted 94,000 people.

“That is the envy of many of our neighbouring towns and cities. We have a success story on our hands. It is something that has gone from strength-to-strength.”

He said having a launch in Manchester had attracted new partners to back the festival and attracted general interest from further across the region.

This year’s festival will see the introduction of a gala dinner, a real ale and cider festival and a produce market.

And there is already demand from local foodies to attend the cookery demonstrations by the celebrity chefs. Mrs Forrest, who will be doing a demonstration on August 27, said: “I think food festivals are just so important.

I like to see families attending and trying different foods so it’s not all about just going to the supermarket.

I can’t wait for the Bolton Food Festival. I really enjoy doing demonstrations and meeting and talking to everybody. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing James Martin’s demonstration.”