A 162-year-old church organ is set be cleaned for the first time in more than 60 years.

The organ, which was installed in St Andrew’s Church, Slaidburn, in 1870, was built by Bovington’s of London and was used for the Great Exhibition in London of 1851.

The work, which is set to be begin today, will cost around £7,000, and the church’s vicar has predicted that it may take several years to pay it off.

The Rev George Derby, who has been at the church for a year and a half, said: “The organ is very important to this church and a good clean is well overdue. We have already started fundraising to pay for the costs but it will take some time before we have paid it all.

“I call this church the cathedral of the Hodder Valley because of its size and importance around here and the organ is an integral part of it.”

The present church was built in 1450, replacing the original Norman building, and is a grade one listed building.

Mr Derby said: “The work will probably take the rest of the month to complete but it’s worth the wait and the money.

“This is a very necessary project and we have to make sure that we look after every piece of the church as much as possible.”

Parishioner Marjorie Pinder said: “It’s a lovely organ and makes a great sound that we all enjoy every Sunday.

“It has been with the church for so long and it’s something that we are proud of.

“It will be a shame not to have it in commission for a month but it will be worth the wait.

“I think it’s a shame that it hasn’t been cleaned for so long but it’s hard to raise that kind of money at a parish church like this.”