TORRENTIAL downpours threatened to wash out Bolton's annual Victorian Street Fair yesterday morning - but by the afternoon there was a sunnier outlook. As the heavens opened in the early morning, streets were awash with water, and stall holders and customers huddled under canopies.

But then the sun came out and faces emerged from under umbrellas and shelter of surrounding shops, and the entertainment got into full swing. This was the first year that the popular annual event was sponsored by Marks & Spencer and despite the poor weather there was still an impressive variety of stalls.

Many dressed up in Victorian costume, and there were the usual range of tombola, raffles, home made produce and crafts on sale.

Local charities and organisations lined the streets around the Town Hall, and the street market was complemented by the Open Air Art Exhibition. In addition, in the foyer of the Festival Hall, in the Town Hall, there was a Bolton At work exhibition, depicting through photographs, the Mass Observation survey of Bolton in the 1930s, illustrating the variety and nature of work in the town.

Among those standing at the Victorian Street Fair were members of the Winter Hill group who aim to hold a variety of events commemorating the centenary of the mass trespass. They were selling a booklet, written by Paul Salverson, written about the event of 1896. After the event, organiser, Denis Priestley, paid tribute to the "true British grit" that had eventually made the day a success.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.