MUSIC lovers came out to hunt for hidden gems at a record fair in Bolton town centre.

The Market Place Shopping Centre played host to the event for the first time, organised by Premier Record and CD Fairs.

Collectors flocked to the numerous stalls to browse the rare vinyl and CDs throughout Saturday.

Premier Fairs is a venture by friends Bernard McMylor and Cliff Pemberton, both from from Glossop, and has been operating at numerous sites across the country since 2001.

The fair has been held in Bolton in the past but this was the first time it has been in the Market Place and Mr McMylor is hopeful it will return.

He said: "It is always tricky at the first fair in a new area because people are unsure but it has been going well today and the traders are quite pleased.

"We have had a lot of collectors coming along, many of whom regularly attend our events in other towns and cities."

He added: "We have a wide range including music from as far back as the 1950s, we are finding that vinyl is more popular than ever."

Mr Pemberton said: "It is always nice to be in a new town and we have had a steady footfall, we will see how it goes and then decide whether we will be back.

Stallholder Mark Edwards, from Partington, was hoping to sell a very rare copy of the album Studio 150 by Paul Weller. He said: "One chap has been back several times to see it, it is valued at £100 so would be good if we could sell it."

Other vinyl for sale included a £250 Pink Floyd box set, as well as Queen, The Beatles and Johnny Cash records.

Mr Edwards is such a big music fan that he named his son Morrissey, after former The Smiths frontman.

Morrisey Edwards was on hand to help his dad at the Bolton event and said: "Its good to be here in Bolton."

He added: "I am a huge fan of The Smiths, I used to resist it a bit when I was young and rebellious but then I realised what a good group they were."

For more information on the Premier Record and CD Fairs, visit premierfairs.co.uk or contact premierfairs@aol.com or 07743325715