TRADERS are being encouraged to apply for a stall at Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival in March.

The annual award-winning festival is set to return on March 19-20 and traders wishing to attend are asked to fill in an application by February 10.

Sweet-toothed snack lovers will return to explore a range of attractions for the eighth year running.

Ramsbottom Business Group, which organises the event, is looking for traders for more than 60 stalls across the two-day festival, from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, March 19 and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, March 20.

Gregg Fletcher, chairman of Ramsbottom Business Group, said: “Ramsbottom has so much to offer, well known for its eateries, bars and our annual chocolate festival.

“We hope to attract even more visitors in March with everything we have to offer – it’s amazing to see the festival grow through its success, year after year.

“This year the business group will be running a ‘best egg creation’ competition throughout the weekend.

“We’re encouraging people to get crafty and make something using a real egg.

“We want people to let their imaginations run wild, as long as they use an egg within the scene you can be as whacky as you like.

“Thinking back to your school days where you would make a ski scene with ‘Eggie the Eagle’.

“There will be a prize for the winning entry and also an egg hunt for the little visitors.

When the event first kicked off in 2009 it included only 12 chocolate stalls situated in Market Place around the town’s iconic Urn sculpture.

The popular duck race will also return with the Ramsbottom Rotary Club running the race on Sunday 20.

Traders wishing to attend are asked to fill in an application by visiting visitramsbottom.org