According to the Official UK charts 12 Christmas Number 1s have been about the festive season, with the rest of them simply the big songs that everybody loved at that time of year. Happily the biggest selling Christmas hit is Band Aid’s “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” which bested Wham's “Last Christmas” - the biggest selling Number 2 single of all time, with 1.82 million sales. Rumours that sales are so high because people bought this song and then the very next day they gave it away are unfounded.

There are so many events leading up to Christmas it’s difficult to know where to begin. Actually, the best place to begin would be on the events page on Bolton FM’s website (Boltonfm.com) but two worthwhile mentions are the Mayor's Christmas Fair and Bolton Hospice's Hike the Pike.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr Roger Hayes and Mrs Jaleh Hayes are hosting the Mayor's Christmas Fair this Saturday. There's twenty five craft and gift stalls, refreshments, tombola and table top games and children can meet Santa and his elves in his grotto. Admission to the fair is 50p for adults, children free. Santa's Grotto is £2. All proceeds go to local charities.

Bolton Hospice's Hike the Pike takes place this Sunday. Hike the Pike is a sponsored festive family hike from Ridgmont House up to Rivington Pike to raise funds for Bolton Hospice. Registration opens at 9am and the hike will start at 11am. Adults £10 and kids £7.50 the festive outfit is included. To sign up call 01204 663 055.