COMMUNITY leaders unveiled a special plaque to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of Leigh's War Memorial Gardens.

The town's centrepiece first opened in 1901 and a bandstand was built the following year. After the Great War the gardens were dedicated as Leigh's war memorial on September 30, 1922.

The gardens were upgraded in 2000 but there have since been requests from the public for a memorial plaque to be installed.

Leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith, unveiled the plaque watched by Leigh councillors, Council Cabinet member for Culture, Cllr Brian Baldwin, and Leigh's Township Manager Andrew Sharrock. Representatives from Leigh Townswomen's Guild and West Lancashire Freemasons and the Soroptomists, who helped fund the renewal work, also attended.