A PENSIONER is celebrating news that a vandalised memorial bench is to be replaced at a cemetery.

Council chiefs have agreed to install a new bench for Hilda Hodgson at Astley Bridge Cemetery .

Mrs Hodgson, from Smithills, had called for increased security after vandals snapped a commemorative plaque from the bench and dumped it in a bin.

Vandals badly damaged a number of wooden slats forcing council chiefs to remove the whole bench.

Mrs Hodgson had the bronze plaque -- commemorating the lives of six family members, including her husband Stanley -- returned.

Now, the retired medical receptionist, who suffered sleepless nights because of the distress caused, said Bolton Council will return the bench to its former state in three weeks.

She said the busy cemetery needed a bench for people to sit and reflect.

She said: "It is so nice to know that somebody cares and has taken the trouble to do this.

"I was very upset to discover what had happened but I am over the moon and very happy at this news.

"The council have told me that they will install a new bench in the same place and stick my plaque back on.

"I would like to thank the council and everyone at the cemetery.

"The Bolton Evening News also did a very good job in highlighting the problem and I would like to thank everyone there. I feel so relieved."

Mrs Hodgson bought the bench in 1984 in memory of Stanley, his mother and father Bertha and Thomas Minton, her father William Crompton, and Stanley's brother and sister William and Emily Minton.

It is positioned near Mrs Hodgson's family graves.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are delighted to have been able to help. It was unfortunate the original bench was vandalised.

"We offered Mrs Hodgson the choice of either Overdale Cemetery or Astley Bridge Cemetery for a site and the new bench will be put in Astley Bridge near the family grave.

"Hopefully this time, more respect will be shown for a treasured family memorial."

Hilda's thank you: See P28