YOUNG people from different communities across Bolton borough came together to strike a pose in a glitzy catwalk show at the weekend.

Looking as if they had stepped off the covers of Vogue, young volunteers sashayed up the catwalk at a series of fashion shows held at the Apna Bazaar, modelling a mixture of outfits from East and West.

Two of the town's most prominent female figures - the mayor of Bolton, Cllr Prentice Howarth, and council leader Cllr Barbara Ronson - graced the catwalk wearing saris in a special preview show.

The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester loaned some of their lavish costumes for the models to wear, as they paraded to the beat of classical music, R 'n' B and Michael Jackson.

Azizah Musa, who organised the event at the Pack Horse Hotel, Nelson Square, said it was all about celebrating diversity.

She said: "I would like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers - without them this event would not have been possible."

Julie Patel, aged 21, a student from Bolton, had three costume changes. She wore a Venetian dress, a ball gown and a bridal gown.

She said: "It really has been a lot of fun. When you wear different styles of outfit you find that you really do move differently."

Louise Settle, a 15-year-old Deane School pupil, donned traditional Asian dress for the show.

She said: "I really love the outfit, it's so different from what I normally wear. I do feel really nice wearing it."

Hundreds of people visited the Bazaar, organised by Apna News, in association with the Pack Horse Hotel and supported by the Bolton Evening News.

In addition to the shows, there were stalls offering henna body art, music, food, fashion and accessories alongside local businesses and services. There was also a careers corridor offering advice on careers, recruitment, training and volunteering.