SIMPLY the best! That was the verdict on this year's Bolton Evening News Amateur Stage Awards/Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies' dinner at the Albert Halls, writes Showbussiness Editor Doreen Crowther.

There were more awards, more excitement when they were announced and more enjoyment of the sell-out Millennium event, sponsored by ACDOCO.

For the first time a society scooped two awards. Bolton Premier AOS (now Bolton Premier Productions) picked up the Best Musical Award for West Side Story and also gained the Best Set accolade for that show.

And this year the BEN presented plaques to Michael Rogers, chairman of BATS and Harold Hulton for their contribution to the success of the newspaper's awards.

The awards ceremony was, for the first time, held on the main Albert Halls stage.

Mr Michael Rogers thanked both ACDOCO and the BEN for their involvement in the event.

He also praised the BATS' representatives who attended meetings on behalf of their society.

Mr John Waters, the BEN's Managing Director, also welcomed ACDOCO, who were sponsoring the evening for the second time.

He stressed how difficult it had been to choose winners from shows which were generally of very high standards.

There were more awards than previously this year, he said.

Pictures of the nominated societies' productions were flashed on a giant screen as the nominees were announced.

The winners were presented with their awards by Doreen Crowther, the BEN's Showbusiness Correspondent.

Afterwards everyone enjoyed dancing to Jeriatric Jazz in the Lancaster Suite.