A POPULAR folk group from Westhoughton is to receive the town’s treasured civic award.

The award – an annual honour that recognises more than 20 years of service to Westhoughton – is usually given to individuals.

But this year the honour will go to The Houghton Weavers, as the band celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.

The group, which comprises lead singer Tony Berry, David Littler and Steve Millington, is to receive the gong in January from Westhoughton Town Council.

Tony Berry, lead singer of the band, said: “It is a lovely gesture and a fabulous thing for the band, and recognises our 40 years of contribution to the town.

“Everywhere we go, we extol the virtues of Westhoughton and the things the town has to offer, and we always have done.

"We talk about Bolton Wanderers and Wingates Band and this is a lovely reminder I suppose that people have not forgotten that we do that.

“It is great that the town has thought of us, and myself and the other lads are honoured.”

David Kaye, president of fellow Westhoughton music group Wingates Band, said: “We have had a long and happy association with what we have regularly called our fellow Howfen Legends, although we always joke that they are more than a century behind us.

“From the earliest days, there has been sporadic co-operation between Westhoughton’s renowned folk group and its internationally acclaimed brass band, although that co-operation has developed much more substantially over the past 15 years or so, which have seen us regularly performing on stage together.”

The Houghton Weavers was formed in 1975, with Mr Berry and Mr Millington founder members.

The band has recorded 24 albums and appeared on national radio and TV programmes, including This Is Your Life and Video Entertainers.