VISITORS to Bolton's Ticket and Information Centre found celebrations under way this week.

The busy centre - in the foyer of Bolton Town Hall - has been running a week long programme of events, activities and competition as party of "TIC Awareness Week '96" - to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the national Tourist Information Centre network.

Bolton, one of over 500 centres nationwide, is rated as one of the top in the North West, attracting more than 100,000 visits a year.

Bolton T&IC offers a range of services from booking tickets for shows - London theatres as well as the Albert Halls - accommodation booking in Bolton and nationwide through the Book-a-Bed-Ahead scheme, selling unusual gifts, guides, stamps and phonecards too, plus carrying information, brochures and leaflets on more than 500 attractions and destinations in the UK.

Leisure services chairman Cllr Gerald Riley said: "Both the annual number of visitors and the many favourable comments received by the T&IC staff are an excellent reflection of the centre's important and growing role in helping meet the needs of visitors, and of residents too."

The centre is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and has Box Offices on 01204 364333, Fax on 01204 398101 and a special 24 hour credit card tickets booking line on 01204 371688.

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