SARA Cox is back and she's set to treat Bolton to an action-packed weekend of madness.

Radio 1 has descended on Bolton and Sara -- who comes from Bolton and is Radio 1's top DJ -- has kicked off what will be the BBC's biggest event in the town since One Big Sunday two years ago.

The One Big Sunday event held in Moss Bank Park saw thousands of people crowd into the park to watch Sara and other presenters on stage along with a host of music stars.

This weekend, Breakfast Show host Sara will be joined by fellow BBC radio presenters Mark and Lard, Scott Mills, Judge Jules and the Sunday Surgery's Emma B and Dr Mark Hamilton.

The action all takes place at the Life Bar Cafe in Nelson Square and it includes live Radio 1 broadcasts.

Some events will be ticket only, but most of the events during Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be open to the public. There will be restrictions on numbers at some of the events.

Among the guests is ex-Verve singer Richard Ashcroft and local band Appease.

Radio 1's Mark Radcliffe -- who is another Boltonian and one half of Mark and Lard -- describes Appease as "one of the current crop of happening Bolton bands".

They get get their big break when they play live on his show tomorrow afternoon.

Scores of people are expected to pack into Nelson Square to get a glimpse of the stars.

The weekend starts on Friday with a live broadcast of Sara's show between 7am and 10am. Pupils from Sara's former school, Smithills School, will be at Life Bar Cafe to meet her.

Former Bolton School pupil Mark Radcliffe and his sidekick Lard host their live show between 1-3pm.

Mark said: "I think it's fantastic that Radio 1 has at last realised that my home town is a vibrant and seductive metropolis on a par with Rio, New York or Tadcaster."

In addition to live shows and star guests, listeners will have the opportunity to meet and talk to music industry experts, have their demo tapes listened to and get one-to-one feedback.