AN under-threat Burnley centre landmark could be saved from demolition - if national conservation agencies come to the rescue with cash help.

St James' spire is earmarked for clearence in a £12 million shopping redevelopment in the Curzon Street area.

But now English Heritage and the National Heritage Memorial Fund are being asked to stump up the money to rescue it.

Council Labour leaders have been under fire from preservation groups since announcing they simply did not have the cash to meet the £250,000 cost of re-locating the 19th century structure, set in the town's Peace Garden.

They said they would pay £50,000 for moving the Peace Garden to a new site, but the much-loved building would have to be cleared to make way for a new car park.

Now, after a barrage of criticism, councillors have agreed to look for outside aid to fund the stone-by-stone removal of the spire to another place in town.

The decision to ask for cash was taken in private at a recent meeting of the economic and property sub committee.

In the past Burnley has persuaded English Heritage to come up with money to support the ill-fated Queen Street Mill museum project at Harle Syke.

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