GIN lovers were in their element during an interactive mini festival that took place over the weekend.

The Gin and Rum Festival was a new addition to Bolton's Food and Drink Festival for 2019, and gave visitors the chance to try dozens of new flavours.

Visitors spoke to the experts, tried a tipple or two, and also watched regional chefs as they demonstrated food to cook to match the drinks.

MasterChef winner Simon Wood was on stage showcasing his citrus tutti-frutti dessert, which has been recreated alongside distillery Didsbury Gin to create a new Tutti Frutti gin liqueur. The drink is being sold at Aldi priced at £13.99.

"I was a data scientist cooking at home", Simon said, "But MasterChef opened the door for me to go on to become a professional chef. My life has changed because of it."

Simon, from Oldham, also produced a cocktail of gin, prosecco, charred grapefruit and tonic, which was given away to a member of the audience, Joyce Butterworth, for giving the best reason why she should win it, namely "because it was made by Simon."

"His demonstration was fabulous", said Mrs Butterworth, from Halliwell, before adding, "The cocktail was good but it is slightly more tart than the drinks I usually go for."

Visitors to the festival marquee in Victoria Square on Sunday night could try more than 50 craft and artisan spirits from the bar.

Several distillers from across the north were also showcasing their products, including Defiance, Flight Club, Touch Lucky, Tanquerey, Batch and Simply Timperley.

Visitors Ayeesha Fox, aged 27, and Abby Preston, aged 23, were impressed with the selection of tipples available to taste.

The friends, from Horwich, said: "We tried lots of flavoured gins, including blueberry and vanilla, and strawberry. They were all really nice.

"Everyone was really friendly. They were all offering us samples."

Their favourite gins were the Tutti Frutti and Wigan-based Touch Lucky's offering. Touch Lucky was established in March.

John Rotherham, who is behind the family-run business, said: "We launched on Brexit Eve. It was so successful. People seem genuinely interested and like to hear how things are made, and the botanicals that go into the gins."