CHURCHGOERS will see the light thanks to the award of a new grant.

St Anne's Church, Turton, is to be bathed in light to mark the new Millennium.

It is one of 400 churches eligible for the money under the Church Floodlighting scheme.

The church, in High Street, Chapeltown, is set to get spotlights to pick out individual features, including the spire and floodlights. The Church Floodlighting Grant scheme, co-funded by The Church Floodlighting Trust and the Millennium Commission, has awarded a grant of £5,386 towards the total cost of £10,000.

Church warden Stephen Hobson said planning permission had been granted, as had listed building consent and approval from the diocese.

A trial run has been carried out and Mr Hobson said the church had looked "absolutely superb".

The church can be seen from far and wide and its position made it ideal for the floodlighting grant, Mr Hobson said.

A local contractor will undertake the work under the watchful eye of the vicar, the Rev John Daulman.

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