AN icy Lapland-style igloo will be the centre-piece of Bolton's festive market celebrations on Victoria Square in December.

Father Christmas will take up residency for three weeks in the igloo, accompanied by a robotic polar bear and a troupe of penguins!

For a charge, children will be able to go into the igloo to meet and receive a gift from Father Christmas between December 2 to 23.

Some of the money raised from the event, organised by the Bolton Town Centre Company, will be donated to local charities.

A European market has also been planned, with 25 French traders selling a variety of goods including freshly baked breads and pastries, cheese, olives and cooked meats.

Some 18 stallholders from across the UK will also be at the event from December 9 to 12, offering a fine selection of hand-crafted goods.

A continental extravaganza will also hit Bolton later this month when Victoria Square is transformed into a bustling European market.

Team Fantastique will bring the best of French and continental produce to the four-day event, with a large range of foods and fancy goods.

More than 30 stalls will be selling delights that can normally only be found at delicatessen counters across the Channel.

French Charcuterie and Boulangerie stalls will sell cooked meats and freshly-baked bread and pastries, alongside traders offering Dutch and French cheeses, German sausages, a variety of garlic and vegetables and bottled French wine and cider.

There will be biscuits from Brittany, olives from South France and French jams, as well as jewellery from Paris, Italian leatherwear and African art for sale.

The market will open at 8.30am each day, allowing early-risers to sample a true continental breakfast of croissants, pain au chocolat and freshly baked pastries.

It is the first visit to Bolton for team Fantastique, who regularly host similar markets up and down the country.

Bolton town centre manager Cathy Savage said: "We are looking to make Bolton a major centre for gourmet events, and know that the continental market event will bring continental quality to Bolton.

"The people of Bolton love their markets and we know that they will give the event a warm reception." Marketing director of the market Geoff Drinkel said: "We are looking forward to bringing the best to Bolton, the best produce and continental goodies we can find."

The market will run on Victoria Square from October 14 to 17, from 8.30am until late into the evening.