LEIGH Parish Church is to be lit up for Christmas - as a tribute to Rita Jones.

The announcement was made at the funeral of the Leigh businesswoman who was a driving force behind the regeneration of the town centre and Charter Centenary celebrations.

The church was packed with family, friends, business colleagues and civic leaders who heard moving tributes from her daughter Belinda, and sister Irene.

Leading the tributes was Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Tom Sherratt, who had worked with Rita on the charter events.

He announced that the Parish Church would be floodlit before the start of the Christmas festivities.

"It's going to be a tribute to Rita, to what she did for the community and the people of Leigh," said Cllr Sherratt.

A Leigh Millennium calendar will also be dedicated to Rita's memory.

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