DOZENS made the traditional pilgrimage up Holcombe Hill to mark Good Friday.

And church leaders in Bury walked in witness to their faith when they joined together for the traditional cross-bearing procession through the town centre (pictured).

Poor weather at the start of the day meant numbers trekking up the hill were down on last year.

But dozens, including young children with their families, tackled the gruelling walk to Peel Tower. Some had come for the first time, others had made the walk many times during the 20-year annual tradition.

Miss Valerie Dootson, of Brandlesholme, took her daughter Amy (7) and her nephew Kieran McGroarty (6) on the walk.

"Amy attends Sunday school and has been asking questions about Easter and Jesus so I decided to take her on the walk up Holcombe Hill," said Miss Dootson.

Mrs Gloria Metcalf of Ramsbottom Christian Council, which organises the annual pilgrimage, said she has been doing the walk for as long as she could remember.

"The walk is an important act of witness and is a display of faith showing a Christian presence," she said.

Cross-bearer Mr Robert Airey led the procession accompanied by the Reverend Colin Honour, vicar of Emmanuel Church in Holcombe, and the Reverend Eric Ruehorn, the retiring vicar of St Mary's Church in Hawkshaw. At the peak they were joined by dozens more who had completed the walk earlier. More villagers and travellers from other parts of the borough gathered as the day became brighter.

The service at the top of the hill was conducted by Mr Ruehorn. He will soon retire from the parish he has served for the last 25 years.

Christians in Bury performed their own act of witness to remind town centre shoppers of the significance of one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. Around 50 people walked from the United Reformed Church on Rochdale Road to Bury Parish Church where they took part in the Good Friday service. The procession, which grew as it marched through the town centre, held a short service at St Marie's RC Church.

The Reverend Ruth Wollenston of the United Reformed Church said: "The Good Friday walk was revived successfully last Easter. This year more people joined us. The aim was to remind people what the day stands for and I think we achieved that."

She added: "The walk of witness is even more important now that shops are open and people go about their business as normal."

The day drew to a close with Radcliffe's walk of witness in the early evening. The walk is organised by the Radcliffe churches and this year attracted more than 200 locals who walked to the town centre for their Good Friday service.

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