Thousands enjoy a fancy festive night on the town

Colourful characters including film stars, pop singers, and gangsters, flooded into the town centre for a special evening out.

People out on Boxing Day were urged to don fun outfits, as Bolton went head-to-head with a neighbouring town for the second year.

The first fancy dress event on December 26 was held last year, to rival Wigan’s legendary night and encourage partygoers to stay in and come to Bolton.

The second event has been hailed an even bigger success with thousands of people turning out in crazy costumes.

It included people dressing as a Smurf and heading to J2 nightclub, in Nelson Square, which helped raise funds for the Marie Curie Nurses Appeal.

Richard Greenwood, one of the organisers of fancy dress Boxing Day in Bolton, said: “There were thousands of people out in fancy dress, I’d say about 40 to 50 per cent of people were dressed up.

“A lot of venues have said it was their best night of the year and it was definitely bigger and better than last year.

“I think we’ll be doing it every year. People stayed in Bolton and I have had a few reports that those who went to Wigan wished they had stayed here.”

The night also raised awareness of the World Peace Flame Foundation, a charity which promotes peace, as Bolton aims to be the first place in the country to have a peace flame.

Club promoter Sam Zegrour, who was behind the night at J2, said: “It went really well, a lot of people turned out in fancy dress and there were Smurfs out and about.

“I think we’ll have a theme each year for charity. We want to give something back, cause a bit of a stir and give people an extra reason to be in Bolton.”

The proceeds for Marie Curie are still being counted and will go towards a £200,000 target.

The charity, which is being supported by The Bolton News, is raising funds to provide more free home nursing care for local terminally ill people.

To find out more about the fancy dress night, visit boltonboxingday.eu.

cherry.thomas@ theboltonnews.co.uk