OLDHAM is gearing up for a "weekend of wooing" as shoppers prepare to spend big for Valentine's Day.

A survey found that 56 per cent of Oldham residents will celebrate love on February 14 with one in three planning to treat their loved ones this weekend.

Elk Mill, which is owned by survey organisers British Land" have dubbed February 10 and 11 the "weekend of wooing" as Oldham’s retailers and restaurants prepare for a surge in visitors.

Daniel Davis, centre manager at Elk Mill, said: “Valentine’s Day is a busy time for our retailers and restaurants as shoppers look to celebrate and treat their loved ones. With more than a third of residents likely to be celebrating the weekend prior to Valentine’s Day this year, we’re looking forward to spreading the love, whether that’s helping people choose the perfect gift or welcoming couples for dinner.”

Oldham love birds expecting to be woken up with a romantic breakfast in bed may be disappointed as just two per cent say they’ll be making breakfast in bed this year, with nearly three in ten (28%) preferring to go out for a candlelit meal for two instead.

When it comes to choosing the perfect Valentine’s gift, it seems Oldham residents are hopeless romantics, as traditional presents - greetings cards (44%), perfume and aftershave (14%) and flowers (10%) - remain among the most popular ways to say ‘I love you’.