A SPECIALIST chemical firm stepped in to help a heritage trust out of a slippy problem at an historic mill in Burnley.

Staff from Church-based William Blythe rose to the challenge laid down by the Weavers Triangle Trust to get rid of the oily waste left in the engine pit at Oak Mount Mill engine shed.

The challenge was taken up through the Initiative Burnley scheme, involving a partnership of local businesses.

Trust chairman Brian Hall said: "We've got a National Lottery grant to renovate the engine and get it back in order. One of the first jobs has been to get rid of the black, oily waste that has accumulated in the engine pit.

"It was a right mess and we couldn't really get on with the job until it was cleared up. "William Blythe came along and managed to get most of the oil and grease into black bin bags. They put down some sawdust to soak up the rest of the oil and they're coming back to remove that as well."

Work on the engine house building has already been completed thanks to money from English Heritage.

"The job needed specialist equipment and clothing to do the job and Blythe's provided the workers and all the clothing and gloves that were needed," said Geoff Haines, a Weavers Triangle trustee.

"We're extremely grateful to the firm and all the people who volunteered to do this very mucky job."

The volunteers are due to return to the engine shed at the end of the month to finish off the clean-up work.

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