IT IS normally used to share photos and snippets of information about people’s personal lives — but now Bolton Council is using social networking website Facebook to promote one of its major annual events.

This year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival will be the council’s first foray into social networking and marketing.

Town hall bosses hope to follow the move by creating an account with Twitter, the microblogging website, to broadcast all the council’s news.

The Bolton Food and Drink Festival now has its own Facebook page, which can be used to find information about the event, see pictures of last year’s festival and share food and drink tips.

There are photos of this year’s celebrity guests — chef James Martin and the Hairy Bikers — as well as pictures of last year’s open air cooking display by BBC2’s Simon Rimmer.

Cllr John Byrne, executive member for development and regeneration, said: “The Food and Drink Festival will get everyone talking, and Facebook is a great, modern way for as many people as possible to join the debate.

“The page will help to create a real buzz around the borough in the build up to the festival, and keep that feeling going long after.”

The festival will run from from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30.

To join the Facebook page, log on to facebook. com and search for Bolton Food and Drink Festival.