BOLTON’S Food and Drink Festival really will be bigger than ever before with stalls taking over even more of the town centre.

For the first time, stalls will be in Deansgate and Market Street, as well as Victoria Square and Oxford Street.

More than 60 fine food and drink producers from across the country will show off their wares at the specialty market.

A specialist garlic farmer from the Isle of Wight and an award winning artisan baker are just two of the new stallholders that will feature this year.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, said: “The market is a real highlight of the festival and expanding it means food fans will visit more of the town centre, boosting our local businesses in the process. We’re also really pleased this year we have our regular traders and we’ve attracted new quality stallholders, which should encourage more foodies to attend.”

Visitors to the Food Festival, from August 26 to August 31, will be in culinary heaven with a range of produce to choose from including handmade chocolates; cupcakes; homemade soup; luxury jams and street food.

The festival is now in its sixth year and has built a reputation for being one of the best in the North West. And with visitor figures at 75,000 for last year, council chiefs hope an extension of the festival, alongside more events and celebrity chefs will attract even more foodies.

The festival will be opened by two-Michelinstarred chef Michael Caines. There will be live demos in a cookery theatre in Victoria Square.

Celebrity chefs Hairy Bikers, Gino D’Acampo, James Martin and a whole host of top chefs are also making appearances.

The market will be trading 10am until 5pm every day.

Tickets for cookery demonstrations for the celebrity chefs can be purchased from the Albert Halls box office on 01204 334400 or online via boltonfoodanddrink festival.com.