SHOPPERS could be forgiven for seeing BLUE on Saturday when they walked past Bolton's showpiece fountains.

The £110,000 fountains, dogged by controversy, took centre stage again when the water of one fountain turned blue.

Passers-by in Victoria Square did a double take when they saw the dyed water -- complete with frothing soap suds.

It is believed vandals threw in soap powder causing the change of colour much to the astonishment of visitors to the square.

It is the latest hitch to hit the troubled fountains which only began operating properly last week.

The jets of water, which then cascade down stone steps had been absent for several months while design problems were sorted out.

The fountains should have been running in time for the revamped square's official opening seven months ago, but engineers discovered that they repeatedly flooded the paving surrounding them.

Extra stone had to be brought in to build a kerb and more drains installed.

The fountains are not the only public water feature at risk from soap sud vandals. In Ramsbottom the controversial "Tilted Vase" in the Market Place regularly has soap added to its flowing water turning the surrounding area into a sea of foam.

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