A MARBLE war memorial which had to be moved after the Accrington church it had stood in for more than 80 years was earmarked for demolition has been re-dedicated in its new home.

The memorial, made of Italian marble, commemorates service people who died in the First World War and stood, until last summer, in Sacred Heart Church, Blackburn Road.

But the church was earmarked for demolition last year after closing its doors to worshippers for the last time in June 2003 as part of a series of cuts by the Salford Roman Catholic Diocese.

The monument was moved to its new home at St Mary's Presbytery, Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle, earlier this year but it could not be put back on show until a special display cabinet could be built in the grounds to enclose it and protect it from the elements.

This work has been completed and this week a special service was held at the church to re-dedicate it.

Father David Lupton, from the Salford Diocese, said: "After the First World War 13,000 memorials were placed around the country, including one in Accrington and one in Oswaldtwistle.

"But there were so many from the Sacred Heart parish that lost their lives that a special memorial to them was built in the church. It was installed there in 1922 and contains 450 names.

"However, a new home had to be found for it when Sacred Heart was closed last year. It had to be taken down, put up again and enclosed to protect it. It has taken a lot of work to get to this point."

A special mass was held in the church and then the congregation moved outside to the memorial for the blessing and the Last Post.