A SYMBOL of unity which has a special meaning for Holmes Chapel has been introduced to the village's sensory garden.

The worker bee is an emblem for Manchester, and became a symbol of the solidarity of the city following the Manchester Arena bombing.

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School pupil Nell Jones was one of 22 people killed in the bomb attack in May 2017 following an Ariana Grande concert.

Knutsford Guardian:

The marking at the community centre entrance

Holmes Chapel resident Mike Jarvie donated two bee road markings to Holmes Chapel Parish Council, which have been placed in in the sensory garden and at the entrance to the community centre.

Mr Jarvie works for a playground marking company, which has provided the bee road markings for other local authorities, including Manchester.

Parish council clerk Tina Cartlidge said: "The council discussed two suitable locations and agreed the sensory garden and the community centre entrance were the most appropriate places. We are going to consider costings and possible locations for future markings."

The bee markings should last for between seven and 10 years.

Knutsford Guardian:

One of the refurbished phone boxes

The parish council has also refurbished its two antique phone boxes in the village to preserve them for future years.

Tina said: "Some of the wood had rotted in both boxes, glass panels had been broken and the door on one of the boxes was damaged by vandals, although it was already quite rotten.

"A new door has been fitted to the Barclays box, and the glass from the old door used to repair the broken panes on this box and the other box on Westway. After some other repairs and several coats of paint, they are looking in great shape."

Knutsford Guardian:

She thanked Cllr Mike Street for organising the work, and doing some of it himself.

The phone boxes are used to house the village's community public access defibrillators.