LOCAL councillors don’t always get the praise they deserve but Bolton’s Jean Gillies deserves a real accolade.

She has masterminded festive celebrations in the Farnworth area after the town failed to have enough funding for a Christmas event this year.

This is a particularly tough time of year for her as, after being very ill, she suffered a series of personal tragedies last Christmas when she lost five family members in two weeks.

Despite all that, she has ensured local people have a celebration of their own, as an excellent local councillor and someone sharing the true spirit of Christmas.