LOVED ones were remembered at Bolton Hospice’s moving Light up a Life church service.

Children, family and friends came together for the annual event at Bolton Parish Church on Wednesday night.

Pupils from Blackshaw CP Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School sang their hearts out to festive songs, and music for the evening was provided Bolton Youth Brass Band. As the congregation sang, the lights of the church were slowly dimmed to darkness before the countdown to the lighting of the tree outside the church in tribute to those who will be missed this Christmas.

Dawn McGuinness attended the service with friend Janis Morton to remember two people she had lost to cancer.

Mrs McGuinness, from Halliwell, said: “I lost my husband Danny 13 months ago and my close friend, Tommy Flynn, about six weeks ago — and both of them were looked after at Bolton Hospice.

“It’s coming up to Christmas and you miss them more than ever. I feel like this has bought a lot of people like myself together to remember the people we’ve lost and I’ve found it very positive.

“I’ve recognised a lot of people from the hospice and it’s nice to all be here to support the hospice, because they do such a brilliant job.”

Graham Yardley, chairman of the trustees at Bolton Hospice, led the lighting of the tree with the Reverend Canon Matt Thompson.

Mr Yardley said: “The Light up a Life is a simple way for people who have lost a loved one at the hospice to remember them by dedicating a light in tribute to them. It is a simple but effective thing we do every year.”

Visitors also had the chance to donate money to the hospice on the night.

l Bolton Hospice will hold a second service at 7pm next Wednesday, December 18.