BOLTON'S charity canopy — a gift to the town 30 years ago — has been mothballed.

The facility, which was closed to local voluntary organisations in September, was dismantled overnight and put into storage.

Charities have been given alternative table-top sale space at the outdoor market in Ashburner Street — but organisers say they cannot get anywhere near their previous takings.

The move is part of a £1 million redevelopment of Bolton's much-maligned Newport Street into a "European-style boulevard".

Bolton Council chiefs will now mull over what to do with the canopy — which was presented to the town by Marks and Spencer in 1984 to mark its centenary year.

Cllr John Walsh said: “Getting rid of the charity canopy was exactly the wrong thing to do.

"It was gifted to Bolton by Marks and Spencer to work in partnership with the authority.

"I was part of the discussions back then and it was intended to benefit the charities and others in the town.

“But the council is now pricing charities out of the town centre.

"It makes grand claims about helping voluntary organisations and then moves people out to the market to an inferior site where the footfall is much less.

"I think it’s a disgrace and is another example of them riding roughshod over the wishes of the public of Bolton.”

Up to 40 charities used the canopy last year and it has been a popular spot from which to fundraise and sell bric-a-brac since it was given to the town.

Work on Newport Street will not begin until next year but the structure has been taken down now to make way for a temporary snow slide which will form part of a “winter wonderland” in Victoria Square this Christmas.

Pet Rehome chairman Kathy Walton said the charity would normally make up to £650 every time it had a charity sale at the canopy, but in the new location takings had fallen to below £100.

She said: "I am dismayed. Bolton Council has completely and utterly ignored our pleas.

“Had they offered us a true replacement somewhere locally, we wouldn’t mind.

“If the footfall increased at Bolton Market a thousand fold, it would make no difference because we don’t have the space to sell.

“We used the canopy five or six times a year. Having to move to the market has drastically reduced our revenue."

Chairman of Tottington Pets in Need Dorothy Maden said: "This is sickening. The thing I am waiting for is for Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris to make a comment.

“We are very bitter. We’ve been raising money there since 1990 and regularly took between £700 and £800.

“The one and only time we used the stall on the market we raised only £45. There is little point in us doing it again.”

A council spokesman said: “We have always maintained that due to the £1 million redevelopment of Newport Street, we would have to dismantle the charity canopy in autumn, and we wrote to all users to explain this in March.

"The removal of the canopy was also necessary to support the winter wonderland programme in Victoria Square.

“We understand that some charities have concerns with the alternative arrangements and we will continue to monitor the situation.”