THE fine aromas of French food are filling the air of Bolton town centre this week.

A traditional Normandy market has set up its stalls in the middle of Victoria Square offering shoppers traditional cheeses, dried fruits and spices, cakes and pastries.

The market has returned to Bolton after it attracted plenty of interest last year and it is offering shoppers the opportunity to try and to buy foods from all over the world, including Indian spices and German and Italian cuisine.

Stall owner Noemie Gohin, aged 24, who is selling dried fruit, spices and biscuits, said: "Our stall is for people who want to learn more about different cultures and different foods. We offer them the opportunity to extend their taste pallets.

"People in Bolton always seem more interested in the foods we have on the market than in other towns and they seem to like the fact that we allow them to have tasters."

The traders, from Caen in Normandy, travel around Britain all year round to offer people the chance to get a taste of France.

Nine stalls are operating from 9am to 5pm each day until Saturday.

Shopper Bob Hesford, aged 60, from Halliwell, said: "The quality of the food is very good and the presentation is excellent.

"It's nice that the market comes here because it offers people something different.

"Bolton needs more things like this to keep people coming here."

Barbara Waterworth, aged 62, of Golbourne, said: "It's brilliant to see the different cultures.

"We came to Bolton just to see the market and buy the different food."

The French traders are hoping to return to the town, although a date has not yet been set.