ONE of the town's biggest charities is celebrating a huge milestone.

Bolton Hospice is 25 and its anniversary will see a year-long programme of special events and fundraising activities taking place throughout 2017.

Since the hospice opened in March 1992, the charity has helped thousands of people through some of the most difficult times in their lives with specialist, compassionate and palliative end of life care.

It is now calling on local people to help celebrate the big birthday by helping to provide one of 25 gifts, whether it's holding a bake sale, signing up to join the lottery fund, taking on a firewalk challenge or volunteering.

There is also a chance for supporters to don their glad rags with a special celebration later this year.

Alice Atkinson, Director of Income Generation and Communications, said: "Every single one of our amazing team of volunteers, staff and supporters has played a part in helping us to reach this special anniversary and it is local people who continue to enable us to make an incredible difference to the lives of the families we support.

"On Friday, March 3, we are holding a special celebration ball at the Whites Hotel at the Macron stadium.

"We would like to invite everyone to join us to mark this special occasion."

The hospice provides a range of services for people with cancer, heart disease, neurological disease and other life-limiting illnesses, in the hospice and in patients' own homes.

Care is provided through outpatient clinics, an 18-bed inpatient unit, day therapy, the Hospice at Home service, complementary therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, bereavement support, creative therapy, a hair and image service and chaplaincy.

All of the services are provided free of charge, but as a charity it needs to raise around £3.2 million a year to fund its work.

The Silver Celebration Ball will start with a Bucks Fizz reception at 7pm followed by a three course meal, live entertainment and dancing until the early hours.

Tickets cost £40 per person and the ball is kindly being sponsored by The Bakewells Care Home, Brewin Dolphin, City Build Manchester, Russell & Russell Solicitors and Yorkshire Bank.

To find out more about the 25 gifts that can be made to Bolton Hospice this year contact the fundraising team at fundraising@boltonhospice.org or call 01204 663 065.