Ashton-in-Makerfield lies just within the boundary of Greater Manchester, a couple of miles north of Newton-le-Willows.
The town is rich in history, with several churches dating back hundreds of years. St Thomas' Church of England parish church on Warrington Road has ancient origins although the present building was completed in 1893.
The graveyard is the resting place of many of the 189 victims of the Wood Pit explosion (at Haydock on Friday, June 7, 1878). It was the worst coal-mining disaster in Lancashire at the time.
READ MORE: Mum given months to live after having pain in side on holiday
With the nearby Haydock Racecourse bringing in punters from across the country, race days can become hectic with the streets lined by drinkers. One business owner told the ECHO: "The place is always heaving on race day, people spending their winnings in bars and pubs."
We popped into a local pub to grab a quick drink at around 4.30pm on a Saturday and struggled to even get into the building. Crowds of racegoers filled almost every bar in the town.
A member of staff in one of the town centre bars said: "It's always so hectic on race days, but it's good for the town and brings in a lot of money. It can really be hard work though."
Interestingly, Ashton is the inspiration for the fictional town in which the Horrid Henry book series is set.
Much of Ashton's history is built on industry, as is the case with many towns in the former south Lancashire area. A number of the area's coal miners made a significant impact on modern British history, including: Stephen Walsh MP; William Kenealy, VC and Lance-Corporal in the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers; and Joe Gormley, President of the National Union of Mineworkers in the 1970s and 1980s.
As recently as the 1970s the district of Ashton-in-Makerfield had one of the highest proportions of derelict land, mainly in the form of spoil tips, left over from coal mining. One man told the ECHO: "I remember when the mines were still going, most men in the town worked down the mines, they had to. When the mines closed it was hard for everyone."
