A GIANT celebration cake was cut during the ball Mayor's Grand Charity Ball at the Reebok Stadium which was attended by 750 guests. Pieces will be sent to the children's wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital and to children's homes.

During the ball, guests were entertained by musicians from Bolton music Service and actors from Bolton Little Theatre performed scenes from Bolton's history. Among the guests was Bolton-born Channel Four TV presenter Vernon Kay who successfully bid £220 in a charity auction for a specially-created Bolton Evening News front page commemorating Bolton Wanderers' 1958 FA Cup victory over Manchester United. A special shirt to mark the125th anniversary of Wanderers, worn by Delroy Facey, was bought by a restaurant owner for £1,200. A raffle raised £3,500, bringing proceeds to £5,000 for the mayor's charity, the Bolton Coronary Care Appeal.