MEMBERS of a Rossendale church branded "ugly" because no one wants to be married there were today hoping Valentine's Day romantics would end their 20-year wait for a wedding.

The congregation at Rawtenstall Unitarian Church is beginning to wonder if they will ever see a wedding, with only two couples walking down the aisle since 1971.

The church, off Bank Street, has even registered to perform blessings for gay couples in a bid to encourage people to hold their nuptials there.

Church secretary and local councillor June Forshaw said she would be delighted to get out the confetti for the first time since the early 1980s.

She said: "We opened in 1971 and we have had two weddings since, but nothing for a long, long time. It is such a shame because we welcome people of any belief. I think it would be a really good thing to have a gay blessing or a wedding."

She said many people in the town did not know the grey church was even there.

Until 1968, a more traditional church had stood on the site but damage caused to its foundations by the building of a new road meant it had to be destroyed.

It was replaced by a modern two-storey structure set back from the road three years later but still goes unnoticed by many people .

Mrs Forshaw, a retired teacher, added: "I have had some people say this building is an ugly building but you could say that about anything.

"It is just that it is a modern building. People say it wouldn't look nice on wedding pictures but a lot of people go to a park or garden for their photos anyway these days.

"We have a lovely function room and it would just be nice to see the facilities used. But people sometimes come in for charity events and say they did not even known it existed.

"It amazes me that people don't know what's on their doorsteps."

She asked the church minister, Dr David Doel, if he would happy to do blessings for gay people and he said he would be quite happy to do so.

Dr Doel, who preaches twice a month at the church, said: "Most Unitarian churches are willing to do gay blessings.

"We had a meeting about it and unanimously agreed to do them. It would be nice to celebrate something at the church.

"With an ageing and small congregation of only about ten people there aren't may weddings or christenings.

"It would be nice to see more people coming to us."