PARISHIONERS at a Darwen church are being urged to create a mile of £1 coins in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for roof repairs.

Maps of the town centre have been placed at the back of St Peter EURO TMs Church and in the parish centre. At the bottom of each map is a series of 26 small slots.

The Rev Andrew Holliday is hoping that people will bring £1 to church each time they attend and slowly fill the boxes to collect the 45,760 coins needed to complete a mile.

Each yard will then be collected and added together to eventually cover 1,760 yards.

If the idea is successful, it is hoped it will raise at least £45,760 towards the church EURO TMs £250,000 roof appeal, launched in March, but it is hoped people will continue to collect coins to take the total to £60,000.

So far £10,000 has been raised through various fundraising events but much more help and cash isneeded.

The £250,000 will pay for an extensive refurbishment of the nave roof, as well as other projects such as painting the ceiling and refurbishment and renewal of the windows and stained glass.

Mr Holliday, who came up with the idea of the mile of coins, hopes people will get behind his idea.

He said: EURO oeThis seems a large amount but if we collect a yard or so a week, which equates to £26, we could make a considerable difference.

EURO oeI hope that we can have lots of fun, seeing how the mile is progressing as we shade in the measured mile on the map.

EURO oeWe have already collected four or five yards.

EURO oeWe thought it was a good way of encouraging people to keep the roof appeal and what we are trying to do at the forefront of their minds. EURO

Mr Holliday has also made a bid for a cash grant to English Heritage to repair the roof before rain begins to pour in.

He said: EURO oeWe are waiting for the initial response to our bid. If we get through the first sift, we will then go ino a pot where all the bids are consdiered.

EURO oeWe would hope to hear by the end of the year whether or not we have been successful.

EURO oeThere is much going on behind the scenes to help with this mammoth project. So much achieved already, so much still to do but with God EURO TMs grace so much will be achieved. EURO