MO MOWLAM, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, is returning to Warrington tomorrow, the sixth anniversary of the Bridge Street bombing, to turn the first sod at the site of the town's peace centre.

The determined minister has always supported Warrington's peace work and this will be her third official visit to the town.

In March last year, she attended a memorial service in Bridge Street and challenged the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust to raise £1 million to build the peace centre. In May she returned to unveil a sign to mark the official site on Sankey Way and, in an exclusive interview with the GUARDIAN, talked about Warrington's special role in the peace process.

The centre is the brainchild of Colin and Wendy Parry who lost their son Tim in the blast. It will be dedicated to Tim and little Johnathan Ball who also died. It will be managed in partnership with the NSPCC and Warrington Youth Club.

As the centre finally becomes a reality, Colin said: "The centre is a labour of love and it will make a fitting memorial for Tim, Johnathan and other victims of terrorist violence.

"Wendy and I believe that developing an interest in peace among young people is vital for the future. Every time we visit Ireland we are struck by the quality and passion of the debate among young people and we know they can make a difference."

Tomorrow also sees the launch of an international campaign entitled 'Children for Peace' as a memorial to Tim and Johnathan. This will include exchange programmes, schools' packs to fit in with the national curriculum and children's awards.

Mike Sanders, chairman of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust, said: "This is the start of what will be the biggest young person-centred peace campaign in the UK.

"Our aim is to resolve conflict through dialogue. We want people to share our passion for peace."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.