PRIME Minister Tony Blair has given his support to a bumper two-day exhibition that opens in Bolton town centre tomorrow.

The Bolton Evening News and the Albert Halls have got together to stage the Lifestyle 50-Plus Exhibition in the Festival Hall and the Lancaster Suite at the Town Hall as well as in a giant marquee in Victoria Square.

Tony Blair, writing in a forward to the programme, explains how important it is to "pay tribute to the great store of wisdom, skills and experience that older people bring to today's society."

And he adds that the exhibition "with over 80 exhibitors is proof of this achievement". He congratulated everyone involved "for their enthusiasm and initiative, and I wish the Exhibition every success".

There certainly is something for everybody over 50 at this exhibition.

In the big marquee, the voluntary sector wil be promoting the many valuable services on offer, from Age Concern and Anchor Trust to the Asian Elders Initiative, Help the Aged, Halliwell Befriending Services and the Association of Retired Persons Over 50.

Inside the Town Hall will be a wealth of information and practical help from every possible kind of organisation - the local Benefits Agency, housing associatons, nursing homes, health firms, a physio, a dentist. You can even change the way you look, with the help of Color Me Beautiful consultant Chris Barbour.

The list of stalls to visit and people to help and offer an informal chat seems endless. In fact, there will be plenty to go home with - one lucky couple will even win a will, courtesy of Exchequer Willwriting Services!

And to help ensure a healthy lifestyle now, in the Crush Hall there will be plenty of opportunities to discover ways to keep healthy.

On Friday, there will be plenty of information on activities for people with disabilities, a rowing challenge, details of the Countryside Warden Service and a chance to find out about the fitness suites on offer around the Bolton area.

On Sunday, there is an Agility Challenge in Room A, gentle exercise sessions, leaflets and plenty of fitness advice.

Those clever Guide Dogs for the Blind will be giving a demonstration in Victoria Square on Saturday, and on the same day, GMC Fire Service will be showing how to deal with a chip pan fire.

There will be entertainment from dancers the Texan Tempros at 11am, the Salsa Club at 2pm and Emmanuel Sequence Dancers at 3pm, and from Equale Trombones along with musical enter- tainment.

BBC GMR will also be live from the event, with the chance to meet favourite radio personalities like Phil Wood. And the BEN's own gardening "doctor" Tony Jones from Barton Grange Garden Centre will also be broadcasting.

There are refreshments, giveaways, goodie bags, demonstrations and a free prize draw among the attractions.

In fact, if you're over 50, you really can't afford to miss this lively exhibition - it's got everything to help make those golden years just great!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.