THE mystery over who has been paving the way for parishioners to get safely to a Darwen church has been solved.

Jim Mullaney, 67, of Limes Avenue, retired two years ago but now he sweeps the leaves off Limes Avenue, making it safer for people who walk to St Joseph's Church and the nearby school on Bolton Road.

Parishioners had been left baffled by the regular clear-ups around their church.

But Jim said today: "I've been sweeping the church steps since I retired two years ago and I just think it's nice to keep the area tidy.

"There are always children coming up to school and I go to church with my wife, Olive, and it's important for the road to look good."

Jim enjoyed a Christmas with 20 relatives, including his six children and eight grandchildren and will continue to sweep the streets in the new year.

He continued: "I go out at about 11am for two or three hours each day. I don't want paying for it because I used to work for the Highways Agency and we were on very good terms.

"It's a good feeling to be able to help and I get thanked a lot by passing parents."

Father David Foster said: "It's a very steep hill on Limes Avenue and if the leaves are damp you could fall and have a nasty knock.

"Jim is doing a very good thing and, if he can, we would urge him to keep up the good work. We wish him well."