A FARNWORTH councillor who lost five family members last Christmas has masterminded this year's festive celebrations.

Jean Gillies had to cancel last year’s events partly due to a series of personal tragedies involving losing five family members in two weeks.

She lost her mother, her uncle and her sister-in-law in one week, followed by her auntie and father-in-law in the two weeks that followed.

Farnworth did not have enough funding to host a celebration event last year.

This year, however, Cllr Gillies has managed to bring some festive cheer back to Farnworth — in spite of suffering an even more recent personal tragedy.

While on stage in Blackpool in October, she suffered a stroke, which was followed by a functional stroke two weeks later.

But after being treated at Royal Bolton Hospital, Cllr Gillies is back on the road to recovery and has been the driving force behind this year’s Christmas celebrations in Farnworth.

The town will have its own Christmas tree this year, which will have its lights switched on as part of a festive celebration tonight.

Cllr Gillies, aged 53, said: “I’m thrilled to bits that this has all come together — the tree is massive and I can’t wait to see it lit up.

“We need something like this to lift the spirits in Farnworth and put the town centre back on the map.

“We know that Farnworth is a high deprivation area, but it has got a great future, with the regeneration of the town coming up, so we need to celebrate this.

“People might say ‘it’s only a Christmas tree’ but from where we were last year, it’s a start.

The celebrations will take place on Market Street in Farnworth and kick off at 3.30pm with some live music and dance performances.

Father Christmas is expected to arrive at 6.15pm, at which point the lights of the Christmas tree will be switched on.