Bolton Food and Drink Festival issues new statement after event cancelled today due to 'significant damage'

Bolton Council has issued a full statement after being forced to postpone the start of this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

The annual four-day event, which is estimated to be attended by around 500,000 people, had been due to get officially underway this morning with more than 200 food traders, live entertainment and celebrity chefs.

However, the festival has now been postponed for today after damage to Bolton town centre was caused by Storm Lilian this morning. Organisers for the event said that the high winds have caused ‘severe damage’ to a number of gazebos, tents and events infrastructure.

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Photos shared with the Manchester Evening News today showed tents flipped over whilst damage caused to the main festival stage could also be clearly seen. Across Greater Manchester, gusts of up to 60mph were reported this morning which Bolton officials said were ‘significantly higher than forecast’.

Organisers have now said that am ‘extensive clean-up operation’ of the festival site, which takes place across the town centre, will happen today so the festival can open as planned tomorrow.

The festival is due to continue until Monday (August 26) with a host of events, shows and cooking demonstrations, including appearances from the likes of Ainsley Harriott and James Martin, who will be attending the festival for the 14th year.

Bolton Council said in a statement: “Following heavy winds during Storm Lilian, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the start of Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

“Work is now underway to ensure that as much of the festival site as possible can open on Saturday morning. Gazebos, tents and other