ST Martin’s Church in Ashton on Mersey held its 300th anniversary service of celebration recently.

The Mayor, Cllr Dylan Butt, attended the service and said: “This church location with an actual history going back 700yrs with the first priest being Williemus De Sala in 1305.

“Its significant past saw it help form the Cheshire Volunteers in 1803 to defend against Napoleon - which didn’t happen - and a church member Charles White who was instrumental in the establishment of the original Manchester Royal Infirmary and St Mary’s Hospital."