A PARISH church in Oswaldtwistle is in the running for an energy efficiency award after a new heating system was fitted.

The priest and parishioners at St Mary's RC Church, Catlow Hall Street, have been worshipping in warmth and comfort since a £10,000 electric heating system was installed last year.

The church has been put forward for a Norweb Business Energy Award because the new system has proved so good in cutting costs and heat-waste.

The 102-year-old church was previously heated by a gas-fired boiler which was switched on at 2am to warm the church for morning Mass.

Architects had suggested fitting a false ceiling to keep down costs but that would have meant covering the oak roof and trusses, which are a feature of the building.

Environmental engineers at the Norweb Emtec Customer Technology Centre in Chorley were asked for advice and they suggested that long-wave radiant heaters be attached to the roof trusses.

Norweb says the system is maintenance free, silent and unobtrusive, and can heat the church in just one hour.

Parish priest Father Patrick Bourke said: "It was really comfortable last winter. In fact I often had to turn down the heating.

"In previous years the heating barely improved the temperature and we wore heavy coats in church."

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