FLOWERS were truly blooming in Atherton at the weekend.

The Atherton Parish Flower Festival 2000 was a stunning success.

Three days of the colourful show in the Parish Church ended on Sunday evening with Songs of Praise and an auction of flowers with auctioneer Sam Lancaster.

Organiser Betty Alty, aided by an uncounted number of helpers, produced a memorable show with floral arrangements "through all the changing scenes of life".

Around the body of the old church, re-dedicated and re-opened in 1997 following a devastating fire, were a series of tableaux depicting life through the 20th Century.

Particularly compelling were scenes from the two World Wars, a look at working life in the town through mining, cotton and the nail, nuts and bolt works.

Cotton was highlighted through one of only 10 National Cotton Queens through the 1930s -- Lois Heath from Atherton's Laburnum Mill in 1931.

There was a special floral tribute to the Queen Mother, celebrating 100 years with her own century the previous week.

Organ music was provided by Paul Marshall and Andrew Bowyer, MD for St Philip's Singing Group was Helen Barker, while guest singers were Mavis Aldred and Joan Ashcroft, pipe music was by Dougie Cameron.

The event was opened by the Mayor, Cllr Joan Hurst.