GUESTS dazzled in their finest dresses at the annual Westhoughton Town Mayor’s Charity Ball.

People flocked to the event held at Brookfield Masonic Hall on Saturday where they dined and danced along to hit songs.

The event marked one of the final duties for town mayor Cllr Samantha Watkin, who has held the role since May last year.

The evening raised almost £3,000 for her chosen charities, which she has been raising money for throughout her term in office.

Cllr Watkin said: “I was truly overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donated on the night and beforehand.

“Mental health is something that affects us all either through personal experience or seeing it through friends and family, and homelessness is something that we have all encountered to some degree when we walk down a busy street in the town centre.

“Special thanks should go to the local businesses and organisations who donated their time, services and goods to our hugely successful raffle. I greatly appreciate their support and contributions.

“I would like to thank again all those who attended the Mayoral Ball and for their kindness and support for these worthy causes.”

The charities that were chosen by Cllr Watkin were the Bolton Samaritans, Hope For Homeless and Bolton Neighbourhood Enterprise.

They were chosen by the Labour member of Westhoughton Town Council when she was elected to the post last year.

The funds raised have been distributed equally between the three organisations.

The event marked one of the final duties to be carried out by Cllr Watkin as town mayor.

The White Horse ward representative will hand over the chain at the council’s forthcoming mayor making ceremony.

The role will likely be taken up by Cllr Arthur Price, current leader of the town council, who has been the town’s deputy mayor for the last year.

Cllr Watkin will conclude her term at the town council’s annual meeting on Monday, May 21.

There will also be a decision on who will be the next deputy mayor, council leader and deputy leader.