BISHOP Julian Henderson and Lord Shuttleworth will don hard hats and 'hi-vis' jackets later this month to scramble to the top of the new clergy court next to Blackburn Cathedral.

But a celebratory glass of champagne will have to wait until they are back on the ground because of health and safety rules.

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They will be climbing ladders and scaffolding to officially mark the latest stage in the £6 million development of a suite of clerical offices and accommodation including a refectory and cloister garden.

The complex, the first such development at a major Anglican Church for 600 years, is a key part of the £33 million Cathedral Quarter project in Blackburn town centre due for completion in December.

Bishop of Blackburn the Rt Rev Henderson and Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Lord Shuttleworth will be on top of the development for special 'topping out' ceremony on Wednesday July 15.

They will be joined on the top of 'Cathedral Court' by the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong.

The ceremony will take place at the top of the new building to mark the completion of the external structure and will be near the roof area.

Because work on the internal parts of the building are still ongoing, the 'topping out' party will have to use ladders and scaffolding to reach the site.

Dean Armstrong said: “The original plan was that there would be prayers and thanksgiving for the work followed by a glass of champagne.

“But health and safety issues have meant that the celebratory drink will have to be held when we come back to ground level.

"Every precaution will be taken to ensure that all of us get up to the roof without incident.”

Representatives from John Turner Construction Group, which is building Cathedral Court, will also be present for the ceremony.

The complex will provide a library, refectory, conference room, an enclosed cloister garden, underground car park for 50 cars, four townhouses for the Dean, cathedral canons and the director of music, six apartments for cathedral staff and six accommodation units for organ and choir scholars.

The building is expected to be completed by October.

The Cathedral Quarter development, construction of which started last April, includes a hotel, office block and a public square.

Blackburn with Darwen council Cathedral Quarter manager Clare Turner said: "Everything is going well and still on track for a September handover for fitting out and opening in December.

"There has been considerable commercial interest in the space in the office block.

"Work has started on the public realm, clearing the ground and paving with the landscaping of the gardens to begin shortly."