"SUFFRAGETTES" holding placards marched through Bolton's Victoria Square to mark International Women's Week.

They were dressed in the style of the campaigners who struggled to win women the vote at the beginning of the 20th century.

Leading campaigner Emmeline Pankhurst was played by Shirley Marsland, a member of Eileen's Playgroup based at Wood Street Socialist Club in Bolton.

But the women from the playgroup say they wanted to represent "suffragists", rather than the suffragettes who were a more militant arm of the movement.

Among those celebrated was Eva Gore Booth, played by Helen McHugh, who was one of thousands of suffragists who refused to break the law .

Helen said: "We wanted to raise awareness of the role of suffragists, who were the real ones to get women the vote.

"These were women who would not break the law, who worked in the mills all day but campaigned hard to get the law changed. The women in Bolton were suffragists, not suffragettes." The march of the suffragettes marked the start of International Women's Week events in Bolton. Lory Povah, community development officer at Bolton Council, said: "The most important part of this festival is to make women aware of what opportunities are out there for them.

"We are trying to create more and more opportunities for women to get involved in what they want to be involved in , whether it be arts and crafts or counselling services."

Events include poetry reading at Little Lever library tomorrow evening, songwriting workshops at Bolton Youth Workshop Craft Centre in Deane on Wednesday evening and beginners aerobics at Great Lever Community Centre, also on Wednesday.

For more information telephone 01204 334066 or 334334.