TICKETS are now on sale for a charity ball which promises to be the most glittering event in Bolton's social calendar for 2003.

On Friday, January 17, hundreds of people are expected to attend the Mayor's Charity Ball at the Reebok Stadium.

As well as live music and dancing, the ball -- which aims to celebrate Bolton and its history -- will have a fireworks display and historical dramatic sketches.

The ball is one of many events to mark the 750th anniversary of the granting of Bolton's Charter from William de Ferrars, Earl of Derby, which gave the town the right to hold a market.

The Mayor, Cllr John Walsh, said: "The ball will be a spectacular event. It will be a celebration of Bolton." The evening will start with a VIP champagne reception in the Lion of Vienna Suite, where guests will be able to admire floral art displays arranged by the Bolton, Horwich and Harwood floral art groups.

There will be a performance by Bolton Music Service and a dazzling fireworks display will light up the night sky before a dinner with a difference is served.

Guests will enjoy a five-course dinner, and the menu will be based around the nine themes selected to reflect the town's history and tradition. They range from arts, culture and theatre to Lord Leverhulme, Bolton Wanderers and Lord Derby.

Actors from Bolton Little Theatre will re-enact episodes from Bolton's history while guests enjoy dinner. An audio visual show will follow, leading to live music and dancing until the end of the ball at 1.30am.

A total of 750 tickets are available and all proceeds will go to the Mayor's Charity -- the Bolton Coronary Care Appeal. Tickets are £50 each. A table for 10 costs £450, while VIP tickets for a table of 10 will be £750.

Cllr Walsh said: "There has already been a great deal of interest in tickets and they are selling pretty quickly. A lot of companies see this as an opportunity to take customers and staff out to a spectacular event."

Each ball guest will receive a special collector's 750th charter anniversary brochure, along with other gifts.

There will be acknowledgements and advertising for companies where appropriate.

Other celebrations planned to commemorate the Charter anniversary include a medieval-style market on January 18 and 19, and a re-enactment of the proclamation ceremony at the cross on Churchgate on the actual anniversary date of January 14.

A large archway will also be put up in Churchgate for two weeks in January to add to the celebratory atmosphere. Tickets are available from the Mayor's office on 01204 331057.