THOUSANDS of sweet-toothed chocoholics flocked to Ramsbottom on Sunday for the first ever chocolate festival.

Restaurants and cafés had to close their doors due to high demand as chocolate lovers from across the North West gathered for an extravaganza of chocolate-themed family entertainment.

The inaugural event was organised in partnership between Bury Council and renowned chocolate hotspot The Chocolate Café to celebrate Ramsbottom’s growing culinary success.

What began as a small marquee event in Market Place, between 11am and 5pm, became a huge success, attracting so many visitors that shops had to put a limit on customers for health and safety reasons.

As well as stalls and samples from the region’s leading chocolatiers, surrounding restaurants dished up gourmet chocolate-themed menus and the Civic Hall held cookery demonstrations from John Slattery of Slattery’s Chocolatiers.

Paul Morris, owner of The Chocolate Café, said the unprecedented success was a massive boost for local businesses.

“We have got some fabulous confectioners working in the North West and I wanted to come up with an event to celebrate that,” he said.

“Ramsbottom has a great vibe at the moment with restaurants such as Ramsons and wine retailers The Vineyard winning prestigious awards — and I don’t see why the town can’t be known for food and drink.

“It has been a phenomenal success, we are looking at up to 10,000 visitors during the day,” said Mr Morris.

“There is a huge demand for what we do in Ramsbottom, which is good quality simple food.”

Chocoholics queuing outside the café on Sunday afternoon were told they would have to wait up to two hours for a seat, whilst Chris Johnson, owner of Ramsons, had to turn customers away.

A giant display of 3ft Easter eggs, which had been decorated by local schoolchildren, took centre stage during the event, while the Jill Fielding Band entertained visitors.

The first prize went to a decorated egg called Eggshilerating Eggsperience, designed by Year 6 pupils at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Radcliffe. The second prize went to Year 2 pupils at Gorsefield Primary School in Radcliffe, with Spring into Easter. The high turnout has secured plans for an even bigger event next year, which will include extra amenities and make more use of accommodation at the refurbished Civic Hall.