AN appeal to restore an historic altar-piece in a Burnley church has raised more than ten per cent of the total after its first fundraising event.

The reredos - a screen behind the altar - in St Andrew's Church, Duke Bar, is in need of specialist restoration.

A former vicar of the church, Canon Bryan Robinson, started a refurbishment fund many years ago when he donated all the money collected for him to commemorate his silver jubilee as a priest.

And the church, which requires a further £13,000 to fund the £19,000 project, raised £1,360 at a dinner at the church hall last weekend.

The church, considering applying to the Lottery Heritage Fund for help in reaching the total, is holding its next fundraiser, on October 30, with a coffee morning at 5 Lower Meade Drive, Burnley.

The reredos was commissioned at the end of the 19th from the workshop of eminent ecclesiologist

Charles Eamer Kempe, who also designed most of the church's stained glass windows.

Anyone interested in supporting the appeal can telephone Maureen Nelson on 01282 426803 or Reverend Peter Hapgood Strickland on 01282 423185.