A PIECE of history discovered during demolition of the former Bolton Road Methodist Church has failed to weather the test of time.

Demolition workers uncovered a time capsule in a cavity under the main entrance.

But the solitary glass decanter had broken during its 90 years below ground and all the crew found inside was a water-sodden bundle of papers from 1912.

It is thought to contain a copy of the Bury Times, the Methodist Recorder, a circuit magazine and a programme of the foundation laying proceedings.

Tipper driver David Guffogg said: "What amazed me was that there wasn't anything else inside, like coins or jewellery.

"Whoever put it down there should have made it a bit more secure."

Although the relics are in poor condition, joint site owners Briggs Demolition will return them to the church, which has a new building 100 yards away.

Apartments fronting on to Deardens Street are to be built at the site where the old church opened 89 years ago.

The foundation stone was laid the previous year, with the contents of a buried capsule listed in the book A History of Bolton Road Methodist Church, Bury and its Origins in Elton.

Its author, John Bisson, said: "It would have been interesting if the papers had been in good condition; but I am afraid they were too wet and hardly readable."

The former church replaced a 19th century forerunner Fairy Street Wesleyan Methodist Church, which collapsed during strong gales last month.