A MAJOR festival started in Bolton town centre today which plans to draw in crowds of thousands -- 24 hours a day.

Commissioned by Bolton Town Centre Company Limited, Bolton Daytime-Night Time! offers an exciting line-up of events and entertainment and runs until Monday, September 11.

The town centre's retailers, pubs and restaurants will be taking part to highlight the diversity within Bolton.

A marquee on Market Place Patio, Corporation Street, will complement each day's theme with entertainment, demonstrations and competitions.

And today, to launch the five-day feast of fun, festival organisers intend to take the public "Around the World in 24 Hours".

There will be an array of award-winning entertainment in the town centre, including an international travel show by St Andrews Travel, a suitcase packing competition courtesy of Debenhams, foreign food sampling and the opportunity to win a weekend break to the jewel of Flanders, the picturesque city of Bruges.

Tomorrow home lovers from across Bolton get the opportunity to shop till they drop, taking in the latest interior designs and home furnishings from across the globe.

There will be a Feng Shui expert available for consultation, explaining how to create the right "chi" for homes. Events in the town centre will also include flower arranging demonstrations, a gardeners' question time and advice on how to buy and sell homes, courtesy of Miller Metcalfe.

Saturday will also have all the ingredients necessary for a veritable feast of fun. With food tasting and wine sampling taking place throughout the town centre, members of the public will have the perfect opportunity to over-indulge.

A wine connoisseur will also be on hand to give advice about the best tipple in the town to complement cooking demonstrations.

A "Ready to Cook Challenge" takes place in the town centre at 3pm, giving Bolton's best restaurants the chance to vie for the top title in an exciting race to the finish.

Sunday's activities will be kick started with Bolton's Big Breakfast, donated by Marks & Spencer. To enjoy a free cereal breakfast, participants have to be at Marks & Spencers on Deansgate at 11.30am.

To combat the weekend's over-indulgence, on-street keep fit classes will take place.

In keeping with the feel good image, Passion for Fashion and Beauty comes to Bolton on Monday. Events will include complimentary hair and beauty consultations by Regis, as well as facials and health and beauty advice from some of the country's leading specialists.

A spectacular fashion show, held at the Victoria Halls, will bring an end to a spectacular the celebration of Bolton and all that it has to offer.

Further information about Bolton Daytime-Nightime! is on 01704 549190. Join Sunday's Big Breakfast bash BOLTON town centre will be transformed when party people tuck in to Bolton's Big Breakfast on Sunday.

The event -- part of the Bolton Daytime-Night Time Festival running from today until Monday -- starts at 11.30am.

Shoppers will be treated to a breakfast of cornflakes, milk and sugar donated by Marks & Spencer. And mouthwatering entertainment will be provided by Delamere Dance Academy Cheerleaders.

Karen Wheeldon, managing director of Bolton Town Centre Company, said: "This breakfast will provide visitors with a much needed energy boost to enable them to take part in the more energetic activities later in the day."

For further information about Bolton's Big Breakfast, phone the hotline on 01704 549190. Stylish fashion show will help charity BOLTON Daytime-Night Time Festival ends on Monday in fine style.

A spectacular fashion show takes place at 7.30pm at Victoria Halls, featuring a massive selection from the town's top retailers.

And to show style really can pay off, money raised from the event will be going to Fortalice, Bolton's refuge for battered women and their children.

Fortalice was established in 1977 and has become a major provider of services for victims of domestic violence.

XS Productions is staging the show on behalf of the Town Centre Company and it includes 18 of the town's major stores.

Models and dancers will entertain the audience, and at the interval awards will be presented to winners of the numerous competitions staged throughout the Daytime-Night Time Festival.

Tickets -- £4.50, £5 or £2.50 for OAPs and NUS card holders -- are from participating retailers or will be available on the door.