Christmas returned to the Market Place this weekend

For the popular festive markets were back at The Market Place Centre in Bolton

The centre was packed with people as they browsed the many different stalls.

On sale were bath and body products, handcrafted jewellery, candles, clothing, handcrafted wooden items and so many more.

And for those who missed out the markets will be back once again on December 10.

Colin Taylor, 72, owner of Phoenix Woodcraft, said the response was been outstanding and all it takes is one person to buy a product for independant businesses to be seen.

Colin Taylor, Phoenix Woodcraft (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "I have done Bolton Market now about eight times, I'm from Wigan but we always travel across to come here.

"I handcraft my products in my shed in my garden and my products are all reclaimed timber.

"Last year in September I was at Astley Park in Chorley and they were having restoration and I got some of the timber from the park and as a thank you I made a pen and a keyring for the general manager.

"And some weeks later I got a phone call from Sir Lindsay Hoyle from the House of Commons, he asked me if I was doing anything on the Friday, we met for lunch and he asked me to make pens and keyring sets to go around the tables at the G7 summit.

"So Nancy Pelosi writes her shopping lists with one of my pens, and the president of France and the German speaker of the House of Commons all take their notes using my pen set.

"And this has just come out of me being out and doing my stalls."

Elizabeth Ratcliffe, Made with love by Lil (Image: Newsquest)

Elizabeth Ratcliffe owner of Made with Love by Lil and Jeannie McVeigh, owner of Jeannie's Peeble Art, both staff from the NHS, also spoke to the Bolton News about the reason why they opened their stalls.

Elizabeth, who was selling bath and body products, said: "I started my business during Covid lockdown because of boredom, I do work for the NHS as well part time.

"So I started this to keep busy, there was no where to go and there was nothing to do.

"I had two children at home and needed something to do and I absolutely love doing stalls.

"I work for SPG events and we travel to different stalls and fairs across the country, so I do stalls all over the country and I love it.

"It's been busy today but I also feel like people haven't got the disposable income this year, people are scared to buy a treat for themselves because they are worried about gas and electric bills."

Vintage Spoon Jewellery (Image: Newsquest)

One stall holder, Victoria Bowwater, was selling unique spoon jewellery.

She said: "My business started with a bag of buttons I bought them for my daughter and made a bracelet with them, and it started from there I started recycling jewellery.

"Spoon jewellery is just something I have got a love for, in the 1600's servents would steal their masters teaspoons in stately homes because they were Sterling Silver and they would have a wedding band made for their wives so it has a lovely meaning of love and heritage."

This isn't the only Christmas event the town is hosting, the town centre will start the countdown to Christmas from December 15 until January 8, transforming the centre into a winter wonderland.