WIVES and husbands of Westhoughton Town Councillors will not be given guest tickets to the Pretoria Pit disaster centenary service.

The news comes as campaigners are told there will be no Uturn on the controversial method for allocating tickets to the memorial event.

Initially, all town councillors and their spouses were to be given priority admission to St Bartholomew’s Church on December 21.

But during a meeting at Westhoughton Town Hall on Monday night, councillors voted to limit themselves to one ticket.

Conservative Cllr Lynda Winrow said: “I don’t agree that spouses should automatically get tickets, with tickets being so sparse it would be wrong.”

Wives, husbands, and partners of the 18 town councillors will now have to apply for tickets along with members of the public.

The move follows a row between the town council and some Westhoughton residents over the method for allocating tickets by raffle.

Objectors have been campaigning for an alternative system which would give priority to direct descendants of the victims.

The town council said the chosen procedure was selected to comply with the Equality Act 2010.

At Monday’s meeting, campaigners presented advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which says the act does not apply to church services.

A spokesperson for the commission told The Bolton News they could see no reason why the town council was quoting the Act.

But town clerk Christine Morris told the meeting there will be no alteration to the method for allocating tickets.

To apply for tickets contact Mrs Morris on 01942 819802.