By Tony Booth

One of the biggest northwest exhibition events of the 2008 calendar took place at the newly renamed Manchester Central (previously GMex) from 9th to 11th May.

I attended on the opening day and was pleasantly surprised to find it a buzzing event - with enough variety and information on offer to lift the spirits of even the most disheartened of property investors.

I arrived early, just after the doors had opened. This was probably a mistake, because the whisper of 'punters have arrived' seemed to echo throughout the building and suddenly I found myself being targeted by scores of suited rabbits, eyes glaring towards me as if caught in headlights.

These were some of the most eager exhibitors I have ever experienced at this type of event, perhaps an indication of desperate days in the property world.