A NEW memorial for 12 people — including a Bolton soldier — who died in a motorway coach bombing 35 years ago has been unveiled.

Terry Griffin was one of eight soldiers and four civilians, including two children, who died when an IRA bomb blew up their coach on the M62.

The new memorial was unveiled following a campaign by his sister, Maureen Norton, who wanted more recognition for the victims.

Yesterday, more than 500 people attended the moving ceremony at Hartshead Moor service station on the M62, about a mile from where the bomb exploded in February, 1974.

The coach was carrying soldiers and their families back to Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, when it was blown apart in one of the most notorious terrorist acts of the 1970s.

Survivors and relatives of those killed were joined by dignitaries, religious leaders and military personnel at the plaque dedication, where an oak tree was also planted to commemorate the victims on the 35th anniversary of the bombing.

An original plaque, inside the service station, will be moved to the Imperial War Museum North in Salford.

Relatives of those who died felt that the original memorial was not in an appropriate place as it was surrounded by merchandise on sale at the service station.

Mrs Norton led calls for it to be replaced after visiting the site to lay flowers and finding she could not get near it.

She contacted the service station, then tracked down the families of other victims for their opinion, as the relocation could only go-ahead with their approval.

Mrs Norton, from Wigan, said the new plaque outside would make it easier for families and friends to pay their respects.

“I think it’s comforting. You can come and have private time and private reflection and think of the good times as well as the bad,” she said.

Bombardier Terry Griffin was aged 24 when he was killed by the bomb, which was planted in the luggage compartment of the coach.

Bombardier Griffin joined the Royal Artillery when he was 17. He was on his way to his base at Catterick after spending leave at his parents’ home in Cartmell Crescent, Bolton.