SPARKS are set to fly this half-term as the first holiday of the new academic year is celebrated with a bang.

A whole host of events are taking place in Bolton as part of Manchester Science Festival to ensure young minds are kept occupied.

They will witness volcanoes erupting, the harnessing of magnetic forces and something dark and sulphurous will be created with cabbages.

And at the centre of this maelstrom of creativity will be Dr Gill Smart, thrilling young people from around Bolton with the University’s Messy Science on Friday October 28 from 10.30am to noon and 2pm to 3.30pm.

She said: “We can’t wait to get the half term fun started. With my colleagues from biology and maths we’re aiming to create some real excitement around the subjects we’re passionate about. We want to inspire the next generation — it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Dr Smart will also be helping at Young Inventors in Hall i’th’ Wood on October 25, from noon until 2pm, with a special workshop to explore Bolton’s engineering history and new ideas.

To book onto one of the sessions, visit www.manchestersciencefestival.com.

Bolton Museum and Library will be celebrating the festival with themed activities on Tuesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 27 from 1.30pm to 3pm.

Other events taking place include a Toddler Tales Halloween special on Friday, October 28 at 11am at Bolton Central Library.

Super Saturday at Bolton Central Library will take place on October 29 from 11am to 3.30pm, themed around fashion.

Breightmet Library will host the The Creepy Crawly Experience on Tuesday, October 25 from 12.30pm to 1pm, where visitors will have the chance to handle cockroaches and stick insects. Ring 01204 332352 to book a free place.

Horwich Library will be holding a Halloween event on Wednesday, October 26 from 2pm to 3pm, where children can make a monster mask, decorate a trick or treat box to take home and take part in other activities.

Spooky stories and witches’ masks can be enjoyed at Westhoughton Library, on Thursday, October 27, from 2pm to 3pm and at Bromley Cross Library, from 5pm to 6.30pm. At Bromley Cross Library there will be a prize for best Halloween outfit.

Children can enjoy spooky tales and make a Halloween lantern at Westhoughton Library on Saturday, October 29.

Visitors to Farnworth Library and Harwood Library on Halloween, October 31 are invited to come dressed in their costumes and enjoy spook-tacular stories and join in ghoul-tastic games and crafts at 4pm.

Smithills Hall will stage a Halloween event on Wednesday, October 26. The free drop in session will run from 12pm to 2pm.

And to be in with a chance to win a Family Portrait, courtesy of Heather’s B’s Photography Studios, youngsters are invited to come along in their Halloween costume and have their photo taken. The Little Pumpkins competition will run from 11am to 3pm.