BOLTON'S Women's Week Festival this month has been hailed as a great success with thousands, of all ages, taking part.

More than 70 different activities were held during the nine day festival, with around 50 voluntary and community groups involved in free events across the borough.

The now annual event is a spin-off from International Women's Day and involved a marquee of information and entertainment in Victoria Square. It culminated with a "party" at the Pack Horse Hotel in Nelson Square which featured women whose talent had been honed at the workshops.

The varied programme this year included everything from Tai-Chi and cycling to pampering sessions and litter picking. Budding songwriters had the chance to enhance their skills and there was even a chance to become a stand-up comedienne.

Among the many highlights was a young women's day at the Castle Hill centre and a play on the suffrage movement at Bolton Socialist Club.

Multicultural events reflected the wealth of influences in the town, including the RV Mission Cultural Evening with its tales of courageous women from two continents, beautiful Asian and Bollywood dancing, poetry and music.

This year's Women's Week spawned a new band of five women called The Flutterbye's which performed at the finale party.

The organisers were delighted with the response to this year's event - which was dedicated to women's rights and poverty in the Third World, linking up with groups like MakePovertyHistory and Fairtrade.

"And," said organiser Lory Povey, "as a result of last year's consultation on this, there will be a Men's Health event in June this year to complement the Women's Festival."