THE daughter of a Bolton firefighter watched as a memorial to firefighters was unveiled in Bury on Friday.

Emma Hughes, aged 44, attended a brief ceremony where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham revealed a statue to commemorate firefighters who lost their lives in the course of their jobs.

The statue, by London artist, Douglas Jennings, shows a firefighter at the end of a hard day’s work.

Miss Hughes said: "I expected something a little bit antiquated but when I saw it, he got it just right, it's so tactile. It's life size but it's within reach."

Before the unveiling, Miss Hughes was presented with a medal of honour for her father, Graham Hughes, who died in 2003, aged 53, after tackling a blaze started by an arsonist in Seven Acres Country Park, Breightmet.

Mr Hughes, who served at Bolton North station is one of 33 firefighters whose families have been presented with a medal of honour by the Firefighters Memorial Trust.

Miss Hughes, who lives in Roscow Avenue, Breightmet, was honoured to be asked to the event and presented with the medal.

She said: "It means the world. One of the hardest things about rebuilding is to leave them behind and the fear of them being forgotten. It keeps his memory alive."

The family of another firefighter, Stephen Hunt, who lived in Radcliffe also attended the ceremony and received a medal.

Mr Hunt died aged 38, after fighting a fire started by two teenagers at Paul’s Hair World in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Sue and Wilf Veevers, the mother and step-father, of Mr Hunt were pleased with the statue.

Mrs Veevers said: “It’s lovely. The memorial in London is firefighters with a hose but this one shows a man who is really tired and sat down, it’s really good.”

Before the unveiling, Mr and Mrs Veevers were presented with a medal of honour for Mr Hunt who died, aged 38, after fighting a fire, started by two teenagers at Paul’s Hair World in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Mr Hunt, who grew up in Whitefield and lived in Radcliffe.

Since their son died in 2013, Mr and Mrs Veevers have attended many memorials to their son and other fallen firefighters and have become close to those in the fire service.

Mrs Veevers, who lives in Bankhouse Road, Brandlesholme, said: “They have really looked after us and we have got attached to certain ones and become friends with a couple of them.

“Especially with his crew. We still go on his birthday. On the anniversary people go and take flowers but I go later on his birthday and take cake for the crew. We take flowers at Christmas.”

The ceremony was held at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Training and Safety Centre in Wellington Road, Bury.

The names of Mr Hunt and Mr Hughes appear on a stone next to the statue.

Mr Burnham gave a short speech to the assembled firefighters, families and dignitaries.

He said: “I’m sure there’s not a day that goes by that the firefighters don’t think about their colleagues Stephen and Graham.

“We think about the service they give when we see our emergency services heading into danger when others are fleeing.”

He thanked all of Greater Manchester’s firefighters for their service and added: “It feels it is in the right place in our training and safety centre.”