The 23 Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morecambe Bay in 2004 were remembered at a candle-lit ceremony and vigil on the town's seafront last night .
VIGIL AND REMEMBRANCE This week, the Mayor and Mayoress of Lancaster, Coun Roger Dennison and Glenys Dennison were among those leading Monday night's ceremony. The Church of England in Lancashire, the Blackburn Diocese, said it is a keen supporter of work to eradicate modern slavery . It is a founder member The Clewer Initiative, a national network enabling church dioceses to detect modern slavery in local communities and help victims. The diocese is also part of the Pan-Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership.
Mayor of Lancaster, Coun Roger Dennison, said: “Our thoughts at this sad time are with the families of those who died in this terrible incident 20 years ago and also all others who have lost their lives over the years in Morecambe Bay. The tragedy was a stark reminder of the dangers posed by its treacherous tides.
"I remember the night in 2004, watching the news on TV and seeing a helicopter out above Morecambe Bay. It was pitch dark. It was terrible."