AROUND 200 people attended a church screening on Friday in a celebratory event which marked 100 years of women over 30 getting the right to vote.

Leigh Film Society held a viewing of historical period drama Suffragette at St Mary the Virgin’s Church with a range of community figures present on the day to show their support.

Jo Platt spoke about being the town’s first female MP in its history.

She also expressed her backing to Leigh’s Women Against State Pension Inequality WASPI group and their campaign with some members present at the screening.

The borough’s WASPI champion Cllr Pat Draper and Atherleigh’s Cllr John Harding were also in attendance.

St Mary’s the Virgin Church’s vicar Reverend Kevin Crinks opened the screening.

The WASPI campaign aims to convince the Government to make "fair transitional arrangements" for a group of women who now have to wait up to six more years to receive their state pension.

This follows the Government fast-tracking plans to increase the state pension age (SPA) for women from 60 to 66.

Most people were completely unaware of the move – which could cost women born on or after April 6, 1951, thousands of pounds – as it received little publicity.

The group meet at St Mary's Vestry on Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm and 10am to noon on Fridays at Joining Communities' St Helens Road base.

WASPI also hold sessions on the third Wednesday of every month from 6.30pm to 9pm at Tesco Extra's Community Room with the next meeting on Wednesday, February 21.