COUNCIL bosses have issued an apology after wrongly claiming a popular town centre church was about to end regular Sunday services.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe blamed a mistake in an officer's report for making the announcement about St James' CE Church at a meeting of the Hyndburn Partnership Board this week.

Board members, and a subsequent meeting of the Accrington Town Centre Regeneration Board, heard the church was set to end regular Sunday worship because of a lack of attendance.

The Partnership has awarded Blackburn Diocese a £1,000 grant to help launch a feasibility study to seek alternative uses for the church.

But rather than end Sunday services, religious leaders are attempting to find a use for the church, and nearby empty St James School, during the week.

Coun Britcliffe, who chairs the Hyndburn Partnership Board, said: "We have to hold our hands in the air and apolgise for making it sound like the church was ending Sunday services.

"That information was passed to me in a council officer's report and it was a mistake. The church will continue to be a regular place of worship."

Ideas for using the church and school could include opening an art gallery, craft centre or non alcoholic bar for youngsters.

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