FANS packed every room of the Lostock Arms to watch their favourite team's disappointing - but thrilling - match at Wembley.

Yet tucked away in the pub's restaurant were many families enjoying something a little bit different - Mother's Day.

The pub had ensured that every fan who wanted to see the match would not be disappointed with two large screens and five TVs dotted around its spacious interior. But the sight of excited fans was a complete contrast to the clicking of wine glasses in the restaurant where mums were being allowed to have a break from making the Sunday lunch.

June Shaw, who organised the running of one of the pub's most hectic days in years, said: "There have been mothers coming and going pretty much all afternoon. It's been a pub of fun today."

Some fans had been enterprising, carefully booking their meals to avoid the 120 minutes of the titanic Wembley clash.

One mother, Sharon Ramsell, 29, from Little Lever, who was being entertained by husband Jim, 30, and daughter Natalie, 10, said she had been having a lovely time. They were also celebrating the news of Sharon's pregnancy and had hoped for a Wembley win for Bolton - and England in rugby's Grand Slam - to make it a hugely eventful day.

She said: "It's been really nice and great to see that I come above football."

It was a double Mother's Day celebration for Kathleen Browne, from Chorley, mother of 44-year-old Michael O'Sullivan, from Morris Green, and Alice Sandiford, aged 77, from Deane, who was being entertained by daughter Margarie Bibby, also from Morris Green.

Alice said: "I'm a Bolton fan. I'd have watched it at home if I hadn't come out. But the meal is really nice and we got a box of chocolates as well." Mr O'Sullivan, who is set to marry Margarie this Friday, added: "We didn't want to spoil Mother's Day for them. It's worth the sacrifice."

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