Bolton Food and Drink Festival traders have an important message after today's storm chaos - 'come down and support us'

Traders at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival are hopeful of making the weekend a success despite the setback.

Wind ripped through the town centre meaning that the first day was unable to go ahead.

A number of stalls were damaged during the bad weather conditions.

But traders are still hopeful - with your help - to  to turn it around over the next three days.

Martin Rowe, from the Fairtrade stall, said: "We have the Fairtrade stall.

"We have got a shop in Bolton near where the Debenhams used to be.

"It was certainly a disappointment today.

"It is a big even and a chance to see people.

"Some of my stuff got damaged in the storm.

"It could still be a good weekend for us we are hopeful we can set up tomorrow but it might not be at 10am."

Another trader said: “Today it seems like a tornado has come through the place, absolute devastation, just absolutely gutted for the festival, the organisers, the traders, we are a family at Bolton, absolutely devastated.

“It’s typically amazing, weather forgiving it is the best event in the world, it’s the only event we do, we just save our year up for this and it’s a great four days, the people of Bolton are wonderful, it’s a great family event.

Read more: Updates on food and drink festival as storm wreaks havoc

Read more: Bolton food and drink festival to reopen tomorrow

Read more: Bella's Bakes will be at food and drink festival

“The sales from today are lost.

“Moving forward I am going to open tomorrow and it is going to be amazing

“Come down it’s going to be a fantastic three days.

“We are going to make up for today.

“We’re going to absolutely smash it.

“Come down and support these amazing local traders.

“Most of us are from a few miles away, we’ve got amazing products, amazing coffee, amazing food to serve you.”