A Horwich bakery started its 40th birthday celebrations with a party, a cake and a poem.

Greenhalgh's Craft Bakery at Lostock played host to about 70 guests, including the Mayors of Bolton, Wigan, Horwich, Leyland and Bury.

The lunchtime event also included a humorous monologue from local entertainer and actor Bernard Wrigley.

Production Director David Smart announced that the company workforce was dedicated to generating a significant amount of cash for charity during the anniversary year.

After four months the total is already £1,500 and the organisers expect it to increase dramatically following various other fund-raising events during the next eight months.

The company has pledged to make a contribution before cash is handed over to the selected charities involved - Children's Opportunity Group, Association For The Blind, Marie Curie Fund (Cancer Care) and Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

Mr Smart traced the history of the company from its origins in the pre-war bakery shop started by Jim Greenhalgh.

The business was sold to the Palais Company which used it to supply pies, pasties, rolls and the like for dances at the Bolton Palais.

Mr Smart's father, Mr Allan Smart, was appointed bakery manager and he was assisted by a young apprentice called Barrie Kemp, who is still with the company as Technical Director.

Then, in 1957, the Palais was acquired by Mecca Leisure and the bakery was sold to Mr Smart and his wife Kathleen, who re-launched the business as Greenhalgh's Model Bakery Ltd.

Later it was re-named Greenhalgh's Craft Bakery Ltd.

Mr David Smart said millions of pounds had been invested since then and they now had 850 employees and 33 shops in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire.

He told his guests that the company was dedicated to quality and that people were paramount.

"We are good and we are proud of it," he said.

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