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An elderly grandmother was left in tears after a community run blocked her drive to church on Palm Sunday. Shirley Crompton, 87, was unable to leave Clevelands Drive on Sunday (April 13) because the roads were blocked for the Bolton Community 10K. Ms Crompton's daughter, Sharon Alexander, 60, who also lives in Heaton, said: "She was terribly upset and I had to calm her down – she was crying.
"My mum's never knowingly missed a Palm Sunday service, it's so important for her. "She always went to church with my dad – he passed away a few years ago – and Palm Sunday was really important to both of them. "So she really wanted to go because they used to go together.
" They made it to church by walking there – but Ms Alexander worries that the walk was too much for her elderly mum. She said: "Having to walk up the hill she was very out of breath, she has a lot of health conditions and I was concerned for her physical wellbeing. "She was upset and angry, she felt really let down by the council for having allowed this.
" Shirley Crompton, 87, was left in tears when the road to her church was blocked (Image: Sharon Alexander) Have a story? Get in touch at [email protected].
uk Ms Alexander said that Bolton Council should have considered the date before they arranged the run. She said: "There was no consideration given to the day – it was the first day of Holy Week and I felt like it was being taken for granted. "Just one look at the calendar would have shown that it was Palm Sunday.
The road was blocked for the Bolton Wanderers 10K community run (Image: Sharon Alexander) READ MORE: I took tour of one of Bolton's most historic buildings READ MORE: Bolton lad hailed as BBC Asian Network Artist of the Week READ MORE: Moses Gate Park: Thousands flock to celebrate festival "Before they agree to do anything like this – they should check the calendar – and if it’s any religious festival, they shouldn’t close the road like that. "Not just Christian festivals – any religious festival, because we live in a multicultural society. "It’s very disrespectful to that religion.
" Bolton Council was contacted for a comment and said that all requests are assessed based on the impact on traffic and appropriate diversions are put in place. Bolton Wanderers in the Community were contacted but didn't wish to comment..
