HUNDREDS of people flocked to Wigan yesterday to celebrate the life of one of the town’s most renowned radical sons.

Gerrard Winstanley, who lived from 1609 to 1676, was the founder of the Diggers, a radical group of early socialists who established a community which lived co-operatively on common land during the English Revolution.

The community was eventually attacked and destroyed by landowners, but Winstanley’s ideas lived on, including his belief that “the world was made a common treasury for all.”

Five years ago a group of socialists in Wigan decided that his name and beliefs should be celebrated with an annual festival.

It began as a pub gathering with songs.

But it grew to become a major event, and last year thousands attended.

This year’s event included music, food, theatre, circus performers, speakers and entertainment.

Morning Star supporters from Greater Manchester ran a stall.