Weekend of fun in store as carnival comes to town

The Central Park showground will be the venue for all kinds of family entertainment including a classic car show, radio roadshow, trade and charity stalls, music and children's entertainment and a five-a-side football tournament.

The carnival, which was revamped 20 years ago to replace the old Westhoughton show and costs about £20,000 to stage, has gained a reputation for being one of the largest in the area.

Entertainment on offer this year includes professional stunt artiste the Sponge Plunge who will be starring in the main arena and entertaining people with his unique high dive show which involves him diving more than 50ft from a platform.

Eagles, hawks, falcons and owls will be on show at Tom Graham's Falconry Display with visitors able to take a close look at the impressive birds of prey.

Performers from La Classique Show Majorettes will be providing two displays with more than 60 young women travelling to Westhoughton from their base in West Yorkshire.

The Shawforth Drum Majorettes, which are the only drum majorette team based in the north of England, will take part in the carnival parade.

Local Shirley Bassey look-a-like and sound-a-like Maxine Barrie, who won the first ever Stars In Their Eyes TV show, will be crowning the carnival royalty.

A series of fun events will also run throughout Saturday in Market Street with visitors able to meet Jethro, who is a fierce 8ft 6ins tall captain with a peg leg, a colourful mime artist called the Yellow Man and plenty of other flamboyant characters along with musical entertainment from Bolton's Scottish Pipe Band.

Chairman of the carnival, Peter Finch, who has organised the event for many years, said: "We are really grateful to all the local businessmen for sponsoring us. It's a busy time of year, but we're all looking forward to the weekend, especially with such good weather."

The traditional carnival parade will take place at noon on Sunday from the Metal Box car park.