KITES of all colours, shapes and sizes took to the sky above Bolton.

Moss Bank Park hosted a free Kite Festival yesterday with demonstrations and kite-making workshops.

There was also entertainment, including street theatre, circus performers and music.

Highlights included a 30-metre long inflatable Octopus and traditional Chinese Dragon kites.

There were demonstrations from the Northern Kite Group and the Kite Collective display team. Spectators were able to buy kites from a specialist traders.

Among the displays were parachuting teddy bears, with children invited to take their favourite teddy to be parachuted safely back to earth after being dropped from the top of a kite line.

Each brave teddy was given a certificate to show it had completed the drop.

Music was provided by the band Melody Pop and Bolton Market Radio was showcasing local Bolton talent in a musical roadshow.

Bernie Bennett, who specialises in tightrope walking after studying in the world famous Cirque du Soleil, performed for the crowd.

The street show, entitled Castaway, by Artizani, had daring acrobatic moments, surreal puppetry and comedy with coconuts.

Circus Fudge, a daredevil stuntman, also performed an array of circus, music and comedy acts.

All-girl stilt walkers, The Funk Adettes, also provided their own brand of humour and strutted their stuff with the crowds, while circus master Jukalo performed aerial antics a top of a high pedestal.