CHILDREN tucked into a massive birthday cake made to celebrate the anniversary of the "official" beginning of Bolton.

Year Six pupils at Eagley Junior School in Bromley Cross sang "Happy Birthday to Bolton" and then cut into a specially-made 15-inch square cake.

The celebration took place to mark 750th anniversary of the granting of a Charter to Bolton by William de Ferrers, the Earl of Derby. It made Bolton a free borough.

Youngsters at the school were told of the Charter's significance by visitors from the Bolton and District Civic Trust and the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr John Walsh and his wife Christine, attended a special ceremony at the school.

Dilys Taylor, chairman of the education sub committee at the Civic Trust, said: "The Charter was important because it gave the town full constitutional, official and legal status. Before the Charter, Bolton had been a little township, but through the Charter we were put on the map. It gave the town official recognition and a basis for proper government."

The cake was specially made by Celebrations in Blackburn Road. It was big enough for every Year Six child to have a slice and it had on it pictures representing each century since the signing of the Charter.

A number of spectacular events have been planned in Bolton to celebrate the anniversary. Tomorrow a Mayor's Charity Ball will take place at the Reebok Stadium, and on Saturday and Sunday there will be a mediaeval market in Churchgate in the town centre, with more than 30 stalls, music and strolling players.