Party in park for churches at the end of their Whit

WHEN police withdrew from marshalling duties from this year Chadderton Whit Walks, the organisers were undaunted - and hosted a party instead.

Around 200 parishioners turned up at Chadderton Hall Park to enjoy gospel music from the Manchester Sing Out Choir.

The event, organised by North Chadderton Churches Together, also included family games, races and a barbecue for members of St Matthew’s and St Luke’s, Mills Hill Baptist, Chadderton Community, North Chadderton Methodist and St Herbert’s churches.

The organisation usually holds a fun day in the park on Whit weekend, with a Whit Sunday walk to the park for an open-air service.

The decision to stop the walks was taken when organisers realised the problems of privately marshalling multiple routes.

The North Chadderton organisers will see how other walks handled their own marshalling this year before taking a decision on next year’s event.