A FAMILY'S visit to Chorley's spectacular new multi-million pound Mormon temple held more surprises than they could have ever expected.

For computer company sales director Andrew Dewhurst, aged 31, his wife Carole, 34, and their son Edward, five, who were accompanied by Carole's father Jim Sumner, 64, became the 50,000th visitors to the building - named the Preston Temple - since it was opened to the public on May 16.

The couple, of Carleton Road, Great Knowley were given a £40 voucher to spend at the Hartwood hotel, a Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD and a copy of the Triple Combination (scriptures used by the church alongside the bible) in a specially-prepared slip case.

More than 110,000 bookings for visits have been received on the special Temple Open House hotline.

The last day for public tours is Saturday, May 30, after which the temple will be closed, prior to its dedication, in early June.

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