A LEIGH couple celebrated the last local wedding of the century on Millennium Eve.

Gaynor Roberts and David Greenalgh tied the knot at Kingsleigh Methodist Church.

They then saw in the new century as husband and wife at a party at home after a reception in town.

The Schofield Street couple - who between them have five children - planned their big day last year. But had difficulty finding a minister to conduct the service . . . until the Rev Roger Moore stepped in.

Gaynor, 43, a nursery nurse, who lost her first husband to a brain haemorrhage in 1993, was given away by her 12-year-old son Stephen. Her daughter Christi was chief bridesmaid, and computer whizz David's twins Hollie and Jessica were bridesmaids.

Her eldest daughter Cheri made sure five generations of the family were at the celebrations, taking along her new 11-week-old son Johnathon to the reception.

The party was headed by 85-year-old great grandma and 'family boss' Winnie Cowley who lives with Gaynor's mum Maureen Robertson in Brunswick Street, Leigh.

This week Maureen said: "It was a fantastic party. I've still not got my voice back from all the singing. We went back to the house after the reception and saw the first dawn of 2000 come up."

The couple are now honeymooning in Ireland.

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