A TOWN could soon be getting a facelift with two major new regeneration plans in the pipeline.

An historic clock will soon become a floodlit centrepiece for Church, after the latest step in a refurbishment was given the green light by councillors.

And a town caretaker will be patrolling the streets reporting litter and graffiti in an effort to stamp out mess and fly-tipping.

The plans are from Church Area Council and will cost thousands of pounds to achieve over the coming months.

The clock tower is likely to be completed first. The first phase of the development, to get the clock working again, has already been achieved.

Almost £5,000 has been set aside for the second phase to bring the outside of the Bank Street monument up to scratch, with spotlights to light the tower, which has four clock faces, at night.

Coun John Broadley said: "It was presented by a family in 1939. I don't know the specifics but I think they just presented it to the town.

"It was a focal point and we want to make it a focal point again. It's been in the pipeline for a while to do it up, to put three new faces in it and sandblast it."

"We have already got the up-lights which are going to be put in, so it will be illuminated on all four sides at night."

The clock was repaired about two years ago. It had not worked properly and had lost its chime.

A caretaker could be patrolling the streets, working a few hours a week reporting fly-tipping and cleaning small amounts of litter themselves.

The scheme will be similar to one already under way in Baxenden, where a caretaker's post is being advertised at £6 per hour for six hours a week.

Coun Broadley said: "We have only just mooted it and we haven't gone into the details of getting somebody to do a feasibility study yet."