A POIGNANT memorial to a Bolton war hero will be unveiled on Monday as a cafe providing support, as well as food and drink, reopens.

The Para Cafe, just on the outskirts of Bolton town centre, will open its outdoor area in line with the lifting of certain lockdown restrictions.

It’s reopening and the officially unveiling of a mural in memory of late paratrooper Albert Campbell, the grandad of co-owner Lauren Cole, will be marked by the cutting of ribbon by The Mayor of Bolton Cllr Linda Thomas.

The mural depicts World War II’s Operation Market Garden, as featured on the book A Drop Too Many by Major General John Frost.

And the striking image as been recreated by artist Kazer, who painted the mural on Sweet Green Tavern.

Work on the mural started last year, and it had hoped it would be completed in time for Remembrance Sunday, but bad weather led to delays.

Danny Loynd, co-owner, said: “The mural is now finished and it looks brilliant.

“We have a border around it and it looks really good.”

He added: “We have invited the Mayor and the Bolton parachute regiment with their medals.

“We have asked the Mayor to join use for breakfast to mark the reopening of the cafe and the completion of the mural.”

The cafe opened to reach out to veterans ­from all regiments ­to reduce isolation and signpost them to the services they may need.

During lockdown, the cafe, on Thynne Street, has delivered meals and kept in touch with veterans through Zoom.

But said Danny: “They cannot wait to come back, a lot of them are old and they are excited to come back to the cafe.

“We have been keeping in touch, but Zoom calls are not the same as having coffee.”

The cafe will be open for outdoor eating and drinking and is now fully licensed.”

Danny said:”We have got the decking and the bottom and put two tables near the gate so it will work well.” He advised to book a table in advance of coming to the cafe. More details are available on the cafe’s Facebook page The Para Cafe.