A NEW visitor guide has been produced - highlighting the best of Bolton.

News of the new initiative came shortly after a coach party from London paid a glowing tribute to Bolton's attractions in the BEN. Bolton Council's Leisure Services has ordered 50,000 copies of the 48-page, full-colour Visitor Guide, giving people a pen picture of the area.

They are being distributed to tourist information centres throughout the country, local hotels and attractions and people wanting information about the town.

The Guide is packed with essential information about what to see and do and includes sections on accommodation, attractions, the striking countryside around the town, eating-out, entertainments, events, shopping, sport and services for visitors.

It also includes a questionnaire and the responses are entered in a free monthly prize draw where winners can choose from a selection of prizes.

In the first month alone, more than 30 forms were returned and the inaugural prize draw took place at Bolton Moat House where Cllr Kevan Helsby, chairman of Bolton's Tourism Working Party and the hotel's sales manager Damien Ange, picked out Mr G Clarke from Essex who will receive a Bolton pen set.

Cllr Helsby said the guide had been produced to meet the greatly increased demand from visitors.

"It is Bolton in a booklet - an instant guide to what is best and where to find it. Our visitor numbers are growing all the time and although information has always been available, this is the first time it has been drawn together like this. Bolton is an exiting destination offering a huge choice of places to visit. There's something for everyone from the town's rich historical heritage to superb shopping," he added.

Copies of the Visitor Guide are available from the Bolton Ticket and Information Centre in the Town Hall or phoning 364333.

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