03 December 2007
United Utilities are lighting up the seasonal festivities in Atherton this year - sponsoring two donkeys for a nativity play and presenting the community with a state of the art roving PA system as a Christmas present.
The PA system will be used for the first time this Friday (December 7) when ten local schools - plus the donkeys - combine to perform the nativity play in the streets of Atherton.
Mary and Joseph call at three pubs before the third "inn" offers them shelter and the re-enactment ends at St John the Baptist Parish Church.
One of the organisers, Councillor Sue Louden, said:"This is the first time a re-enactment of the Nativity on this scale has been attempted in Atherton and it has taken a great deal or organising.
"We started planning back in the summer and we really are grateful for the sponsorship from United Utilities. We had to hire two donkeys because, apparently, they like to travel in pairs! These two normally spend their summer on the beach at Blackpool with winter holidays in Cheshire.
"The PA system is mobile so it will be used throughout the re-enactment and hopefully everyone will be able to hear the play.
"The system is a gift to the community and there won't be any shortage of organisations wanting to use it. We'd like to say a big thank-you to United Utilities."
Brian Jenkins, Project Manager with United Utilities, said the sponsorship and the PA system is a thank you from the company in advance of work they will be doing in Market Street in the New Year.
A £74,000 scheme has been delayed until after Christmas so as not to disrupt business in the run up to the festive period.
Brian said: "This vital work is to replace a nine inch water mains, that has been bursting on a regular basis causing loss of supplies and traffic problems.
"And we want to thank people for their patience while this work is ongoing."