ORGANISERS of the annual Ainsworth Village Day have revealed this year’s event will be held in memory of a popular teenager.

They have dedicated the event, on Saturday, July 30, to Charlie Wyatt, who died on December 22, just weeks after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 13-year-old lived in the village and was a pupil at Tottington High School.

A donation of £200 from the proceeds of the day will be put towards a garden being created in Charlie’s memory at Christ Church Ainsworth Primary School, where he was a former pupil.

Karen Hall, of Ainsworth Village Task Force, said: “Charlie’s death was quite sudden and because Ainsworth is a close-knit community, everyone was touched by it.

“All the children look forward to the village day and we thought it would be a good way for us to remember him.”

This year’s event will be inspired by the Toy Story films and include popular characters such as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr Potato Head and Bo Peep.

They will descend on the village’s recreation ground, in Church Street, at 1pm in a parade led by a band. There will be a day of family-orientated activities including entertainment, music, a zumba display, strongman competition, tug of war, face painting, a bucking bronco, children’s competition, barbecue, fairground rides and stalls.

Money raised will go to groups in Ainsworth, along with the garden in memory of Charlie.

Mrs Hall said: “The plans are all coming together now and the excitement is really starting to build up. It’s always good to see children line up on the road to watch the characters arriving. Hopefully it will be a great day.”

Donations are already being collected for the bottle tombola and raffle. They can be taken to: The Old White Horse pub, 21 Newquay Avenue, 12 Delph Lane, 3 Church Street, 61 Church Street or 4A Devon Drive. To hold a stall or to help on the day, contact Mrs Hall by calling 01204 387844.

l Twelve members of the Charlie Wyatt fundraising committee will stage a spectacular event at the Rock shopping centre on July 2.

It will include bands and dancers to raise money for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where the 13-year-old was cared for. The committee is made up of Charlie’s friends from school and The Carol Godby Theatre Workshop.