CHOCOLATE lovers will be in for a treat when the third Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival takes place on April 16 and 17.

More than 40 stalls are set to feature as part of the 2011 gathering including many leading European trade names such as Divine Chocolate, Choc-Affair, Zotter and Choco La La.

There will be a chocolate market in Bridge Street, featuring award-winning chocolatiers; chocolate demonstrations in Market Place; and chocolate workshops in Ramsbottom Civic Hall as well as alfresco dining in Square Street.

Children will have plenty to do, with activities at the Civic Hall including face-painting, a magician, balloon sculpting, plus a stilt walker and festival mascot Charlie Chick.

Festival competitions will include the Giant Easter Egg designs which local schools and nurseries will be taking part in.

The East Lancashire Railway will be running the Chocolate Express train both mornings with a chocolate-themed dinner on Sunday evening.

Local performers and singers are being asked to play for a couple of hours over the weekend at the venues, on the street and around the festival.

Nursery and primary school pupils are also being asked to get involved and help create a three-foot Easter egg at Ramsbottom Civic Hall.

Paul Morris, owner of the Chocolate Café, and member of Ramsbottom Business Group, said: “We are really excited about this year and have some national leaders of the chocolate industry signed up to take part.

“Ramsbottom is fast becoming the northern centre of chocolate in the UK and we are proud to host this popular and fun family friendly festival.”

Thousands of visitors flocked to the 2009 and 2010 events, which also included a Guinness World Record attempt for the most Ferrero Rochers eaten in one minute.

Road closures are set to be enforced to cope with the increasing popularity of Ramsbottom’s chocolate festival.

Bridge Street will be closed to vehicles from Bolton Street to Crow Lane from 5.30am on Saturday to 8pm on Sunday to cope with the influx.

And diversions will be put in place as the Square Street one way system will be affected by this.

Traffic heading towards the A56 will be taken along Kay Brow and Railway Street before rejoining Bridge Street near the station.

Factory Street and Crow Lane, in both directions, will link Ramsbottom Lane and lower Bridge Street.

Motorists are being advised to use the Civic Hall, Railway Street or out-of-town sites for parking.

* Ramsbottom's Chocolate Festival takes place on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17. To get involved in the festival call 0161 2535327.