BOLTON Town Hall turned green last night to mark Kidney Cancer Awareness Week.

The iconic building was among the monuments across the globe to be illuminated on what is being termed Green Friday.

Town hall officials were approached by Kidney Cancer UK's Susanna Smith from Bolton to light up the Grade II*-listed building in green.

Susanna said: “I am so happy that my home town is lighting up the town hall in recognition that we need to do more to raise awareness of kidney cancer.

“Many people are diagnosed at a late stage and we want to make people aware of the symptoms so that they can have prompt treatment.”

Leader of Bolton Council Cllr David Greenhalgh is fully behind the campaign – knowing all too well the difficulties of living with a serious kidney condition.

At the age of 23, Cllr Greenhalgh was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, a disease that damages the filters inside the kidneys.

It eventually resulted in him needing to have dialysis and several transplants.

He said: “This is a cause close to my heart and I’m proud that we are showing our support as a town by lighting up the town hall green.

“Anything which can help to make more people aware of the warning signs of diseases like kidney cancer is a good thing.”

Susanna has also teamed up with the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to organise a bi-monthly patient support group.

The group is open to sufferers and their families.

The next meeting will take place on April 20, from 2pm to 4pm, at Bridge Coffee, on Bradford Road.

For more information about the support group, contact Susanna on sms@kcuk.org.uk.

Bolton Town Hall is often illuminated in support of different causes.