Superman, Mario and a banana walk into a bar, and the barman doesn't say anything because this is Wigan

It's unique, colourful and chaotic.

No one really knows where Wigan's 'weird' Boxing Day tradition comes from. But they keep coming back.

Hundreds of revellers flocked to the town centre in fancy dress once again on Thursday (December 26) - some for the first time, some for the thirtieth. Whether you're a superhero, Super Mario characters or Santa - anything goes.

As ever, King Street is at the centre of it all with everyone seeming to queue for one club. But the costumed characters - from Superman to a banana - can be seen all over the town centre, from the Wiend to the Wetherspoons on the corner of Wallgate.

It's at these crossroads that two Cookie Monsters can be found, handing out cookies to people as they walk past. But there are plenty of bananas in the mix too, as well as a man dressed as broccoli, for those with healthier tastes.

The best Wigan Boxing Day night out fancy dress in pictures as party-goers brave the fog

"It's just a mad tradition," Joe tells the M.E.N. "I wouldn't be going anywhere else. I wouldn't go to Manchester."

The 24-year-old, who is dressed in an animal onesie, has a long wait ahead of him. He's committed to the bulging queue for the Ibiza nightclub which extends all the way to the corner of Wallgate - and it's only getting longer.

Adam, 19, from Chorley, is just behind him in the queue. He's been before and comes back "because it's a good do".

Josh and Mia, both 23, have come dressed as pirates. This is their fourth Boxing Day night out in their hometown.

"It's the best night in Wigan," says Josh. But asked why everyone is in fancy dress, he says "I don't know."

"It's just a thing in Wigan, it's just what you do," another group suggests as they head from the Wiend to King Street.

On their