WHITEFIELD will be flying the flag in the Millennium with its own flagpole to honour the dead and pay respect to visiting dignitaries.

The Prestwich and Whitefield Rotary Club has been given permission to erect a flagpole at the corner of Church Lane and Bury New Road which was re-vamped as part of road widening work to the junction.

Members decided on the project after they realised that there was nowhere in the town to fly a flag at half-mast in memory of Princess Diana.

They already have at least £600 of the £1,200 total cost in club funds and are appealing to local businesses to help make up the shortfall in donations.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor John Costello, and local councillors have agreed to attend an official flag-raising ceremony and it is hoped the pole will be in place before the New Year. Rotarian Geoff Millard said: "It is something we have been thinking about for a while because when Princess Diana died there was nowhere in Whitefield to fly an official flag at half-mast."

Anyone who would like to make a donation can contact Mr Millard on 01257 276332 or write to James Heyworth, 43 Cunningham Drive, Unsworth, Bury, BL9 8PP.

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