COMMUNITY project group Leigh Neighbours have been on a mission to create colour this summer with a series of hanging basket workshops.

Residents from across Leigh attended the three workshops, where they were given expert guidance, as well as free plants and compost.

Pupils from Sacred Heart RC school also took part in the event and seemed particularly fascinated by the worms. Leigh Neighbours chairman, Susan Gredecki said: "The workshops are always popular. They're becoming a regular event on our calendar because it's a great way of engaging with local residents who immediately recognise what we're trying to achieve.

"We want to work in partnership to make the Leigh Neighbours area a place we can all be proud to live in."

Sacred Heart RC school also hosted a cycling event as part of the national campaign, Big Bike Revival.

Leigh Neighbours worked in partnership with Gearing Up, a Wigan-based community project which upcycles old bikes.

Simon Dale of Gearing Up hosted the event at the school to offer fair-weather cyclists a free MOT to make their bike ready for summer.

Simon said: "The workshop was all about giving people who aren't regular cyclists an opportunity to dust off their bike, make it fit for the road and encourage them to get back in the saddle.

"It proved really popular, with people queuing around the playground — clearly, this area of Leigh is home to a lot of people who love the great outdoors.

"We're definitely planning more events of this kind so we would advise people to visit the Leigh Neighbours website over the next couple of months."

The group also took part in a Big Lunch event in June which encouraged residents to join together over lunch to build relationships in the community.

Mrs Gredecki. said: "The Big Lunch is all about communities taking time out and spending it with their neighbours.

"We wanted to help local people host events so we provided match funding to groups including As in Eden, the local bingo club at Kingsleigh Methodist Leigh Youth Voice and Kamosi — groups which play pivotal roles in our community.

"I'm delighted to say that our Big Lunch events were well attended and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

I hope events such as these play a small part in helping to build greater community cohesion."