A DAY of commemoration and celebration has taken place in Warrington on Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombings in town.

Ahead of the anniversary on Wednesday, a ceremony was held in Bridge Street, at the same spot where the bombs went off on the Saturday before Mother's Day in 1993.

Guests and members of the public were then invited back to the Peace Centre for an open afternoon later in the day.

Colin Parry, whose son Tim was killed along with three-year-old Johnathan Ball in the attacks, said he wanted people to see the work that goes in there.

He called it 'unique' and said it should be something Warrington is proud of.

Addressing the crowd of around 1,000 on Bridge Street, which included Northern Ireland minister Mike Penning, dignitaries and those injured on the day, he said Tim and Johnathan would be looking down.

"They would be very proud.

"The men who planted their devices had to know the victims would be men, women and children out shopping.

 

"The men who murdered them will never be caught. It did nothing for their cause but did so much for peace," he said.

Twenty balloons and twenty doves were released while a moving one minute's silence was held at 12.27pm - the exact time of the attacks 20 years ago.

Warrington Male Voice Choir and members of Barrowhall Primary School and Great Sankey High School sang songs.

Another minute's silence will be held on the actual anniversary of Wednesday - again at 12.27pm.