VINYL lovers will be getting into the groove this weekend when a popular record fair spins into town.

Dealers laden with thousands of LPs, 45s, EPs and rare CDs will set up stall in Market Place Shopping Centre from 9am tomorrow.

Hundreds of fans are expected to flock to the event, which is run by Glossop-based Premier Music Fairs.

Veteran record sellers and newcomers will trade, swap and buy records, while there will also be a free expert valuation service.

Adrian Melling, of Premier Music Fairs, said the lure of vinyl in the era of the digital download should not be underestimated.

He said: “You would be surprised how many passers-by we have. They see all the album covers and it draws them in.

“There’s a tremendous interest at the moment; everybody has gone mad for it. There are record players for sale again in supermarkets and places like that. It’s great.

“We’re all chasing that elusive gem; they’re out there somewhere.”

And Mr Melling gives the original pressing of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon as a typical example of a highly sought after rarity.

“Everybody knows it sold millions and millions of copies. It sold by the truck-load and still sells,” he said.

“But if you can get one of the first 3,000 pressed with a solid blue triangle on the label it’s worth a good £1,000. I’ve got one at the moment, and have had a few over the years.”

Some music lovers are understandably reluctant to part with their musical treasures, but bring some true rarities along to be valued.

“We have that all the time,” he added: “There was a rare Beatles album, autographed by three of the Beatles, but missing John Lennon. It was an early pressing of A Hard Day’s Night, but made unique by the three autographs. It was valued at around £3,000 and with the other autograph it would fetch about £10,000.”

Premier Record Fairs come to Bolton at least three times a year, and Mr Melling, from Colne, said he was looking forward to visiting the town again.

He said: “It should be a really good event. We’ve done it a few times and it just seems to be going from strength to strength.

“It’s a social event as well, a lot of these people do know each other , and they’re friendly types, it’s a bit of a train-spotter situation, it should be a winner.”

The fair takes place on the ground floor of the Market Place Shopping Centre, from 9am. For information call Mr Melling on 07882 809056.