THE Northern Lights may not have been visible in Bolton on Saturday but hundreds still enjoyed a dazzling light show in one of Bolton's most stunning locations.

Rivington Terraced Gardens Festival of Lights shone a spectacular spotlight on the restoration of the historical home and land belonging to Lord Leverhulme.

The two day festival was organised to celebrate the opening of the Italian Lake, the Pigeon Tower and the structures in the area, which have undergone a multi-million pound transformation.

Tickets for the event sold out in record time and 1,600 people attended during the event.

Volunteer Charlene Bessell, event organiser, said: "This is the very first light festival at Rivington, we just wanted to celebrate the opening of this area of the gardens and we thought how better to light up the structures which have been recently restored and rebuilt in places.

"It is about celebrating that the area is going to be back open after about seven months, and it is about lighting up the features and having a party to celebrate, we have missed this part of the garden too.

"As volunteers we have been digging out paths and we have been making it beautiful for people."

Recently discovered features include a lost path which runs from the tower to Lord Leverhulme's bungalow.

Charlene said:"We have got the lost path, our archivist looks at old pictures and she said' I think there is a path there and there are some steps, so our volunteers went and dug it all out and it was amazing

Candles in jars donated by the community lit up old stairs and pathways as well as the lakeside while lasers provided a stunning lightshow above the lake and trees lit up.

Charlene said: "You could hear people walking past saying "wow" and it makes me feel so proud."

All money raised from the ticket sales including donations from vendors will be reinvested into the area.

Andrew Suter, project manager, said: " It is absolutely fantastic there have been so many people come, the smiles on everyone's faces is wonderful ­— our volunteers are loving it.

"It looks incredible. It is going to be an annual event and there is even a chance we are going to do it in October in another area of the gardens because there is so much interest this time.

He added: "We have a team of four staff and we have a team of 500 volunteers and over the last three days we have had 120 of those help us set up, there is no way we could do it with the staff alone

"The money will all be spent looking after this beautiful space. The place is here for everyone, we are encouraging everybody to come up and see it, there are some massive changes, some of the things we have discovered are amazing.

Work on the gardens is set to be completed this summer.

Among businesses supporting it was Northern Money.

Ryan Bailey said: "The lights are amazing. I used to come here as youngster and run here and it was so overgrown, I didn't there was a lake here ­— this will bring so much to Bolton."

The festival was a hit with some of the youngest visitors.

Ava Kay, aged nine, said: "I have been looking forward to it and it is really cool."

Luke Thompson, aged nine, added: "It is really cool, I'm very impressed."