DISHES from Somalia, Burma and Greece will be among those cooked up by Great Lever residents for an event celebrating the area's diversity.

The annual "World of Food" event on Saturday will be combined with the Great Lever Neighbourhood Management's annual celebrations for the first time.

Locals will be preparing national dishes which visitors will be able to try free of charge during the event, which runs from 11am to 3pm at Bishop Bridgeman CoE Primary School in Rupert Street.

There will be a variety of salads for the health conscious and Access Bolton's veggie van, which delivers fresh fruit and vegetable to people who struggle to get to the shops, will be outside.

Local community and voluntary organisations will also be on hand to talk about their work as part of the Government-funded Great Lever Neighbourhood Management project, which is paying for the celebrations.

The scheme, launched in 2001, has seen organisations including the council, police and primary care trust join with residents to try and improve the area.

There will be activities including face painting, hair braiding, henna hand painting, threading and hairstyling.

And the neighbourhood management team's health worker Shahan Lais is teaming up with Bolton Council's sport health and inclusion team to organise sports activities.

Local American Football team, the Bolton Braves will be demonstrating the game and there will also be circus skills, children's play activities, health walks, aromatherapy, line dancing and Lindy Hop swing dancing.

Visitors will be able to get information and advice advice from organisations including Greater Manchester Police, Bolton At Home, the Bolton Primary Care Trust, the Bolton Volunteer Bureau and the Bolton Community and Voluntary Service.

Amina Jeewa, Great Lever's assistant neighbourhood manager, said: "This is our way of saying thank you to the residents for all their support.

"It will be a fun occasion and we would urge as many people as possible to come along."

Further details are available from Ms Jeewa on 01204 331343 or Diane Craddock on 01204 546040.