CONSERVATION work on a historic landmark from the Houses of Parliament in Clitheroe has finished two weeks ahead of schedule.

A small ceremony was held to celebrate the Grade II listed Pinnacle monument to celebrate vital restoration after months of fundraising was secured by the Clitheroe Civic Society who have led the project.

Members of the society, mayor of Ribble Valley Bridget Hilton, deputy mayor of Clitheroe Mark French and restoration workers saw the 'topping ceremony' take place.

Dating back to 1834 to the rebuilding of Parliament, the Pinnacle now based in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle was donated to the town by Sir William Brass MP from the Palace of Westminster but its condition has dramatically deteriorated over the years.

The conservation work saw carbon rods replace the corroded iron fixings as well as poor pieces of stone being removed.

Heritage Conservation Restoration LTD were contracted to restore the Pinnacle on behalf of the society, and replaced the original motor which was discovered to be the wrong mixture for the stone.

Chairwoman of the Pinnacle Project Civic Society Pauline Wood said she was extremely pleased at how the Pinnacle has turned out.

She said: "The pinnacle looks wonderful now the conservation work has take place.

"The people who carried out it out have done a tremendous job and it was important that the work was done when it did as the new motor will need to have set properly before the frost arrived.

"We made one minor alteration to the Pinnacle by placing a small cap on its top.

"It has a long funnel down its spine where it would have originally held a flag, we placed a cap with '2015' carved into it to recognise the conservation work and to prevent the weather doing any damage to the core."

Once a turret on the roof of the Houses of Parliament, the Pinnacle was removed due to its condition and then brought to Clitheroe as a link between the borough and the palace.

Mark French deputy leader of Clitheroe Town Council said the restoration work was outstanding.

He said: "It was wonderful, the ceremony was really nice and very much deserved despite there only being a select few there.

"Now the work has finally finished we can enjoy the pinnacle in all its glory and future generations can hopefully enjoy it for the next hundred years or so."