Salford salutes a 'local hero'
A permanent memorial to murdered Salford hostage Alan Henning has been opened in his home town.
The 47-year-old Salford taxi driver, a father-of-two, was killed by Islamic State after going to Syria as part of an aid convoy to help orphaned children.
A circular memorial garden at Eccles Recreation ground was unveiled in a special ceremony to honour Mr Henning.
The Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, councillor Peter Dobbs, opened proceedings and thanked everyone for taking their time to remember him and Alan's wife, Barbara, paid tribute.
The Alan Henning Memorial Garden design is based upon a clock face; the 360 degree garden has been created to give the family and the community a place of quiet reflection and is symbolic of time.
The garden features a circular flower bed, planted with yellow flowers and plants, wooden sleepers painted yellow and two granite boulders bearing memorial plaques, donated by local businesses for free.
Mr Henning took time off his job to help drive aid convoys to Syria after becoming deeply affected by the plight of orphans in the war-torn country.
He was kidnapped after going over the border from Turkey in December 2013 and held hostage by Isis for 10 months.
Despite worldwide appeals and calls for mercy by his family, the terror group released a video in October 2014 of him kneeling in an orange jump-suit in the desert as he was beheaded.
Mr Henning was one of a number of Western civilians kidnapped and killed by the group.
PL