Bolton's annual mayor's Christmas fair brings people into town

Dressed in warm winter coats and hats, people gathered at The Albert Halls for the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Mohammed Ayub’s Christmas Fair.

The Grinch took pictures with children, and a choir filled the room with joy as people browsed the stalls.

Among the stalls, were Bolton Hospice, who The Bolton News is currently campaigning for, as well as the Bolton Community Kitchen and others.

Lisa Wilkinson brought her two grandchildren to the event.

She said: “I did not know it was happening but one of my friend’s is manning a stall, so I thought I’d come and have a look.

“We’ve had a nose around and the girls have seen the Grinch, but they won’t get too close.”

Tracy McNulty for the community kitchen said the day had been a good way to introduce people to the charities.

The Bolton Community Kitchen help anyone in need of a hot meal.

She said: “We feed up to 80 people at the minute.

“We are all humans, and we are privileged to be here as we are able to meet a lot of people, and it’s good for us.

“We ventured around and had a chat with everybody, and it’s been good.”

The mayor hailed the event as a success and said he was pleased to see so many people had turned up to the event.

He said: “It’s been a brilliant day and we are really pleased to see all the charity stalls, and thank you to the public who came up as everyone was so pleased.

“I am thankful to all the charities and what I have learnt this year as a mayor, is the amount of work these charities do.”

The mayor walked around the event and spoke to many people there, and took interest in all the charity work that was going on.

He said: “I chose all these charities because they all do amazing work and were at the top of my list.

“We need this in Bolton.”