AN important landmark will open to the public next weekend as part of the National Heritage Open Days scheme organised by the Civic Trust.

The Grade I listed Unitarian Church in Todmorden, said to be the "most important disused nonconformist building in the country", will be open both days from 10am-4pm with conducted tours at 2pm.

John Crabbe, local management committee guide, said many hundreds of people had visited the church on previous September weekends under the scheme.

"It offers an additional delight this year in that all the windows have now been renovated and the protective shuttering removed, so that the building's full glory is at last exposed to a proper quota of light," he said.

Organisers hope to have the carillon drum in action to play some of its tunes via the tower's full octave of bells after the 3pm hour chimes each day as a finale to the conducted tours.

The church, which resembles a small gothic cathedral more than a nonconformist chapel, was designed by John Gibson.

Another of his buildings, the Fielden Centre in Ewood Lane, is also open next weekend from noon until 6pm.