THE sun was shining in Ellesmere recently for widows and their families who enjoyed a charity picnic.

The picnic took place on Saturday, May 18 at Cremorne Gardens and was organised by Widowed and Young (WAY) – the only UK charity for people aged 50 and under when their partner died.

More than 10 people tucked into tasty sandwiches and home-made cakes as part of the charity’s Big Picnic Weekend taking place at various locations around the UK.

WAY’s chief executive officer, Rebecca Cooper, came along to the event and was able to hear inspiring stories of surviving loss from Shropshire members.

It was organised by one of the members Alison Utting, whose husband Gareth died suddenly in 2014, aged just 37.

She said: “I joined WAY later that year and have found it very helpful. You find that people make lasting friendships and the children get a lot from it too.”