A NEW survey commissioned by Historic England showed 73 per cent of people believe their local high street is important to them, and Bolton is no different.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi has revealed what she loves about Bolton high street as Historic England looks at what the future of high streets could look like as the country emerges from the pandemic.

Bolton has plenty to shout about with the success of Ironman, the food and drink festival spanning three days, and the fashion festival.

It has become the home of theatre with the Octagon so popular, with recent refurbishments making it a go-to site.

The Albert Halls hosts live shows including dance and comedy and Bolton is also home to Bolton Museum Art Gallery and Aquarium, the Bolton Steam Museum, Turton Tower, and Smithills Hall. Bolton’s markets have also gained traction over the years.

Not forgetting Bolton is also home to great sporting talent such as boxer Amir Khan, as well as Olympian Jason Kenny and Paralympian Ayaz Bhuta putting it on the map.

Ms Yasmin said: "What I love most about Bolton’s high street is the diverse array of shops. We are lucky to have established name brands selling high quality goods, food and drink, but we are also blessed with charity shops which support those who need our support the most.

“As well as this, we have a range of independent shops popping up, each providing a unique service.”

Until this Friday, Historic England is asking people to share what they love about their local high street on social media.

Those stories will come together to build a national picture of what makes high streets so special and to learn what matters most when it comes to their future.

The body commissioned YouGov to find out how people are feeling about their local high street and found 73 per cent of people said their local high street is important to them.

Fifty-four per cent were pessimistic about its future, 40 per cent felt to take action to help their high street’s future and 71 per cent felt personal interactions are important when visiting such locations.