CELEBRATIONS paying homage to the Market Place shopping centre’s Victorian heritage are taking place this weekend.

To coincide with the return of the Bolton Food and Drink Festival, the centre is hosting its own weekend food event packed full of free events and activities.

Shoppers may already have noticed a solid chocolate bust of Queen Victoria taking shape in the Market Place.

The incredible creation, which will be around 50cm tall when complete, is being gradually put together over four days.

Chocolate sculptor Prudence Staite said: “We will be working on this all through the Bank Holiday weekend here at the Market Place. It is made of about 30 kilos solid Belgian milk chocolate.

“The face is probably the hardest part to sculpt, because it needs quite an intricate level of detail.

“We also have quite a lot of work to do on her veil and the crown.

“People have been really fascinated to see what we are doing, it is something that most people have never really seen before.”

Characters in Victorian costume will be entertaining shoppers and handing out delicious treats throughout the weekend.

The Victorian Vaults at the Market Place — now lined with shops and restaurants after a multi-million pound refurbishment — date back to 1855.

Also on show this weekend is a 25ft-long loaf of bread baked by Greenhalgh’s.

Amazonia will be giving out ‘penny lick’ ice-creams for a charitable donation and Carrs Pasties will have staff dressed in Victorian dress selling mini pasties. Café Dolce will have their own Victorian potato merchant stall selling jacket potatoes with a selection of toppings and potato sacks will be filled with fresh scones. Mezzo will also be selling personalised gingerbread men.

Chef Nick Cullen will also be signing recipe books from 11am to 2pm today and Monday.