BOLTON shopkeepers are being asked to spruce up their businesses as part of this year's Christmas campaign.

Local retailers are being urged to "lighten up Bolton" - by attaching a 6ft high tree to their store - to attract a wealth of shoppers during the festive rush.

Bolton Town Centre Partnership is hoping local businesses will buy a Christmas tree and pay for a string of festive lights.

The scheme, offering the tree brackets and lights at reduced costs due to grants by the Tourism Development, follows last year's successful campaign. Bolton's town centre Christmas lights will be switched on on November 21 and the scheme will be in addition to the major festive display.

Retailers interested are urged to contact Maria Appleton, Town Centre Manager at Bolton town hall before Wednesday.

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