A CANDLELIGHT vigil for parents whose children have died is taking place in Bolton tomorrow.

The service has been organised by The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Bolton for bereaved parents and extended family to come together and remember their children.

Christmas time is a joyful experience for most, but for those who have lost a child the festive season is a sad and painful time of year.

Bolton TCF member Jackie Gavin co-organised the service. The 50-year-old from Sharples lost her three children Mollie, aged six, Lucy, four days, and Luie, three hours, seven years ago and has been unable to celebrate Christmas but finds comfort in the service.

She said: "Christmas is a painful time of year and I haven't put a tree up since losing Mollie. It was always a magical time of year for us and we had five Christmases together but even now there is just a big hole.

"Having the children remembered at this time of year is important.

"You can feel completely isolated. As brilliant friends and family are, unless you been through it it's hard to understand and hard to articulate how you feel.

"The service helps people come together to remember and it's not just parents but extended families are welcome as well."

Mrs Gavin and her husband Stephen lost Mollie to leukaemia on August 6, 2003, Lucy on September 18, 2003, after being born at 25 weeks and Luie, on August 11, 2008, after Mrs Gavin went into labour at 18 weeks.

Following Lucy’s death, the family found out about The Compassionate Friends, set up by Wendy and Denis Pye, after their 22-year-old son Mark was killed crossing Moss Bank Way to catch a bus in 1987.

Bolton TCF's annual candle service takes place at 2.30pm in Bolton Parish Church.

It is a poignant service of poetry and music and attendees are invited to bring along a photo of their child which would be displayed at the front of the church during the service and candles are lit upon the reading of our children’s names.

People are also invited to join after the service for refreshments and to learn more about TCF.

For further information contact Mrs Gavin on 07952 302035 or email jackie.gavin1@icloud.com