A PENSIONER who died leaving an estate worth more than £1 million has left thousands of pounds to Bolton charities.

Elizabeth Hindley, of Somerdale Avenue, Heaton, made bequests of £16,000 to causes close to her heart.

Her gifts included a £2,000 donation to the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, £3,000 to Bolton Hospice, £3,000 to the Bolton branch of Scope and £2,000 to Chorley Old Road Methodist Church.

Mrs Hindley also left £3,000 to the Cripples Help of Manchester and a further £3,000 to Methodist Homes for the Aged.

She died last June and little is known about the source of her fortune.

The Rev Gilbert Braithwaite, of Chorley Old Road Methodist Church, used to visit Mrs Hindley every month. He said he was touched by the donation.

Rev Braithwaite said: "It will make a big difference to us and give us more confidence for the future. I'm not sure what the source of her wealth was, because there wasn't any conversation with her about it when I knew her."

Margaret Evans, chief executive of Bolton Hospice, said: "We are always extremely grateful for donations like this.

"Legacies like this are an important source of revenue for us and it's a compliment to the work we do."

Mrs Hindley left a total estate valued at £1,227,427 net.