WHEN Hollyoaks cheeky chappie Max Cunningham -- real-life actor Matt Littler -- decided to party, it had to be in his hometown.

The Channel 4 soap star had the choice of dozens of top venues for his 21st birthday party, but the local lad made good, stuck with his roots and opted for the stylish surroundings of Bury Town Hall's Elizabethan Suite. And guests were treated to the red carpet and garlands of silver and purple "Happy 21st", balloons when they arrived.

There was a massive birthday cake designed in the shape of the soap stars favourite tipple, a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Matt said: "Bury is my home and has always been my bolthole. I love it.

"I was offered loads of places to hold my party in Manchester, but I just couldn't do it. I had to have it here as all my mates and family live here."

Guests at the event included close Bury buddy, Ralf Little from The Royle Family and Paradise Heights, who travelled from London for the bash.

Also present were fellow Hollyoaks cast members, Marcus Patric (who plays Ben Davies), Sarah Dunn (Mandy Richardson), Helen Noble (Abby Davies), Kelly Greenwood (Zara Morgan), Darren Jeffries (Sam "OB" O'Brien) Henry Luxemburg (Toby Mills) and David Brown (Adam Morgan).

Mersey TV's head of drama, Jo Hallows, also showed up for the occasion.

And the glittering occasion was captured by the celeb magazine, "OK", which ran a full-colour feature on the party and its guests.

The head of civic and leisure catering for Bury's Metro, Charles Walton, said: "We were really thrilled that Matt chose the Elizabethan Suite and we were so pleased that he had a great time -- a real occasion to remember."