A CROSS marking 2000 years of Christianity has been erected in Mitton.

The cross, which stands on the village green, was the idea of Bashall Eaves and Great Mitton Parish Councillor John Wilkinson, who is also chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservation Group.

Coun Wilkinson, 89, funded the project himself and said he was very pleased that the cross had finally been put up.

It is the latest development in a long-running campaign by Coun Wilkinson to improve the village.

In the 1970s, with the help of two neighbours, he cleared the village green of rubbish and levelled it. He mowed the grass himself until two years ago when it became too much for him.

Coun Wilkinson was also instrumental in getting a bus shelter built in the village, which he maintained himself, and he was involved in the campaign to renovate the Cromwell Bridge over the River Hodder. The project was granted funding by English Heritage, Lancashire County Council, Ribble Valley Council and Great Mitton Parish Council.

The Ribble Valley Conservation Group will consider any offers of help with their work. Anyone interested should contact Ian Fenton on 01200 429320.

Coun Wilkinson has entered the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Grimewatch awards.

Grimewatch is run in conjunction with the Tidy Britain Group, Groundwork, the Environment Agency and British Aerospace and rewards any initiative which makes East Lancashire a greener, cleaner place to live.

Judging takes place later this month and winners will be announced in March.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.