RELATIVES will gather to remember loved ones killed by a terrorist bomb near a service station on the M62.

Twelve people died and more than 50 were injured when the bomb planted on their coach exploded close to Hartshead Moor services on the M62, 38 years ago.

Nine soldiers and a young mother and her two sons died in the blast on February 4 1974.

The IRA was blamed but it was never proved that they caused the blast.

The victims’ families and friends will pay tribute to their lives this Sunday from 11am to noon at the service station on the Westbound side of the motorway.

A special service will also be held to remember former employee Ronald Nield, from Bradley, at 1pm.

Ronald – the longest-serving employee at Hartshead Moor services – died last year while on holiday and just 10 months after he retired.

His former colleagues and family will pay tribute to him by planting a tree and installing a memorial bench.

Ronald, 66, worked at the service station for nearly 40 years.

Widow Lorraine Nield told the Examiner: “He knew everyone there and he would see people come and go and then their children would start work there so he knew many generations of families.