WORSHIPPERS have raised £800 for charity in memory of Bury woman Veronica Ashcroft who died just two days after celebrating her golden wedding anniversary.

The sum was generated by the congregation at St Anne's Church in Tottington during a celebration of life memorial service for the 72-year-old.

The money will go to the Children's Heart Federation as Mrs Ashcroft's grandson, nine-year-old Joseph Ashcroft, suffers from heart complications.

In May, Mrs Ashcroft and husband Geoffrey, aged 78, of Garside Hey Road, travelled to their daughter Jane's home in Estartit, near Gerona in Spain, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends. But two days later, Mrs Ashcroft died suddenly and was cremated in Spain.

The couple had been scheduled to watch their son Peter take part in an Ironman event in Barcelona which he was forced to cancel due to the bereavement.

Peter said: "It was so sad that in less than a week the very same guests at the golden wedding anniversary celebration were attending my mother's funeral.

Her ashes were flown home and a celebration of life memorial service was held for her at St Anne's Church when £800 was collected for the Children's Heart Federation."

Mrs Ashcroft, one of nine children, had been a worshipper at the church and a keen member of the local bowling community.

The charity was chosen because Peter's son, Joseph, has heart complications as two of his chambers are the wrong way round.

Several years ago, Peter and his sister ran the Barcelona Marathon and raised £2,000 for the same good cause.