THE service was just heavenly when a facelifted pub reopened.

The Butlers Arms at Pleasington, Blackburn, has been closed for six months for an £80,000 refit.

And last night the parish vicar, the Rev John Cree, held a blessing ceremony to reopen the boozer.

Mr Cree, of Immanuel Parish Church, said: "There was nothing unusual in me being asked to do this.

"I regularly bless new buildings, homes, business premises and people - although this is the first pub within this parish that I have been asked to open."

Mr Cree's Roman Catholic parish counterpart, Father Kevin Kenny, had been due to help at the ceremony but withdrew due to ill health.

The pub will be run by Paul and Fiona Keating.

Paul said: "We wanted someone who was well known within the community."

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