THE official opening and rededication ceremony of a village's tribute to its war dead takes place tomorrow, Thursday.

Refurbished Coppull Memorial Garden was created over an 18 month period through a partnership that included Groundwork Wigan and Chorley.

Groundwork project officer Alison Whitehead said: "The Memorial Garden at Coppull is an appropriate tribute to the community's war dead.

"Improvements to the site include new paved footpaths, seating, spring flowering bulbs, lawn areas and lighting columns.

"The key features to the project are the new memorial stone and mosaic. The design for the mosaic came from a competition from the local primary schools in Coppull which was won by Lea Roberts, a pupil from St Oswald's RC Primary School.

"Mrs Jarvis, a teacher from Lea's school, won the competition to design the six foot memorial stone."

Local clergy will perform the rededication ceremony. Attending will be project partners, funders and representatives from local schools, including the two competition winners.

Also involved in the scheme were Coppull Parish Council who provided £4,300, with other funding coming from the Lancashire Small Sites Reclamation Programme (£30,000) and Barclays SiteSavers (£10,000).

The parish council decided two years ago that the Memorial Garden needed improving for the residents of Coppull to properly remember those who had fallen in wars around the world.

Nora Ball, parish council chairman, said: "We employed the help of Groundwork Wigan and Chorley and now have a garden to be proud of where people can rest and remember."

The garden is next to Coppull Library in Spendmore Lane.

At tomorrow's ceremony a bugler will play the Last Post and the hymn, O God Our help in Ages Past, will be sung, followed by an act of remembrance, prayers, the rededication and blessing.