RESTAURANTS in Bolton with the recipe for good health have been showered with awards.

Three eateries in the borough have picked up accolades for implementing health initiatives in the Heart of Bolton Awards.

Pascals, in Lee Lane, Horwich, and Maria's Sandwich Bar in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, were both handed gold awards.

Their restaurants have been made completely no smoking, have healthy food options available and have passed rigorous food hygiene tests.

Spice Valley at The Valley, Astley Bridge, where the awards were hosted, were awarded a silver award after banning smoking during the week. The award scheme was set up almost a year ago by Bolton Council's Food Control Unit in conjunction with advice from the Bolton Primary Care Trust.

Handing out the awards, deputy mayor Cllr Cliff Morris said: "I have been lucky enough to be involved in the awards over the past year and I hope one day we can say Bolton has one hundred per cent of restaurants who are no smoking."

Nine restaurants in the town have now been awarded either silver or gold awards. Any food establishment, from hotels to office canteens, can apply for the awards from Bolton Council.