LEIGH Parish Church is more than half way towards its tower restoration appeal target.

Over £74,000 has been raised since Leigh fire fighters's world record breaking launch in June last year.

They lit 1,000 candles on a huge cake to kick off the £130,000 goal needed to repair the 500 years old landmark.

Since then the church has organised numerous events, including a successful memory trail, which brought in a shock mystery donation of £5,000 and two other gifts of £500.

These came as a result of letters asking people to recall their church memories.

Answers were displayed for visitors to see, and included greetings from a former vicar, the Rev John Rogan, and ex-curate Dick Hatch.

The next big milestone is the fourth annual flower festival next weekend.

The event from August 23-25, will bring 40 of the North West's top flower arrangers together working to produce 30 stunning displays.

They can be seen between 10am and 7pm on the Friday and Saturday and 12noon to 6pm on the Sunday. Admission is £2.50, accompanied children free.

All proceeds go towards the appeal, and a wide range of home-made refreshments will be available in Leigh CE Infants' School throughout the festival.

Parish clerk, Neil Holland, said: "The church is renowned for the quality of its flower festivals and it will be filled with a blaze of colour. Everyone is invited to come along to help boost our appeal further."