FIREFIGHTERS will lead the bid for a candle-lit record on Sunday in a bid to boost the tower rebuilding fund at Leigh Parish Church.

White Watch, from Leigh Fire Station, will bid for a place in the Guinness Book of Records by lighting 1,000 candles in the Spinning Gate Centre.

A trial run last weekend saw 300 candles alight at the same time -- a third of the current record which they are hoping to beat to raise funds for an urgently needed St Mary's tower rebuild.

Leigh Vicar the Rev Terry Challis will light the first candle at noon and the public are invited to sponsor candles at a £1 a go as the firefighters, using tapers, will light candles on the giant cake baked in the shape of the church, and donated by Waterfields bakery.

George Bridge, a member of the Tower Refurbishment Group, said: "Smoke detectors will be turned off during the quarter of an hour it will take to light the candles and firefighters will be standing by with extinguishers but hopefully won't be needed."

One concern the record hopefuls have is to ensure the area is as draught free as possible because they fear the candles may burn too fiercely.

The aim is to have 1,000 alight at the same time.

The tower rebuilding fund has already reached £1,200 and was given a £100 boost by a donation from local-born writer and national newspaper columnist, Lynda Lee-Potter.