AN ambitious scheme to modernise a Heysham Church has been given a £6,000 grant from the council.

The £260,000 renovation of St James' Church is nearing completion and the cash will go towards up grading the existing church building.

Chairman of the committee which gave the grant, Cllr Stanley Henig, said: "This is a great community scheme and I am very pleased that the council is able to support it. There has been an enormous effort from St James and the local community in raising £250,000. The Council is always keen to back the work of local people by supporting community projects which have been successful in raising their own funds."

The Rev Simon Hunt said: "We are very grateful to Lancaster city council for their kind support. The grant will greatly assist the whole project - especially the much needed works to up-grade the existing church building, which will allow greater use by the whole community."

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