A CHURCH which was gutted by arsonists two years ago is to be re-born, thanks to a £500,000 rejuvenation scheme.

Work to re-build Blackburn's St Anne's RC Church will begin in the next few weeks and is expected to be completed by next Christmas.

Today, Father Jim McCartney vowed to make the church an even bigger part of the local community and encourage more people to become involved in its work.

The church, next to the ground-breaking THOMAS centre which helps recovering addicts and reformed criminals, was devastated by a fire started in three separate areas of the building just before Christmas 2000.

Initially, parishioners were told it would have to be pulled down but now church chiefs have found the £500,000 they need to restore the France Street building, which dates back to 1928.

Around £300,000 of that will come from insurance, with the remainder made up by cash from the Roman Catholic Salford Diocese and Blackburn with Darwen Council. The council's donation has come from the Townscape Heritage Initiative, which helps fund restoration projects, and will lead to the creation of a new public garden.

Under the new plans, a section of the church which had its roof wrecked will be pulled down and re-landscaped and another section is to be turned into a community centre.

The rest of the church will be repaired and restored and will cater for around 200 parishioners, as opposed to the 800-capacity it had before the blaze.

Father Jim said: "The church has been open to the elements for about two years now so there is a lot of damage inside, not to mention the fire damage.

"The money for it all has now been put in place and we are very pleased that the church remains."

Since the fire, up to 100 worshippers have been attending services at the nearby St Anne's Primary School.

Father Jim said: "It shocked and upset a lot of people when the fire occurred but many were a lot more upset when they were first told that the church was going to be pulled down.

"That reaction led to a rethink by the diocese and we are all very pleased that work will begin early in the new year.

"It should take about 10 months and it will be used only as a church, not for the THOMAS centre as well."

Father Jim added: "Our big effort when the church is completed is to make it more a part of the community and the town centre, getting more people involved."

Doug Chadwick, chairman of Blackburn Civic Society, said: "It is good news that the church is being saved.

"It is one side of an historic square which, unfortunately, in its centre currently has a warehouse.

"The town needs to preserve buildings in this area because they are part of our history."

Coun Andy Kay, the council's executive member for regeneration, said: "A £45,600 grant towards an environmental improvement project adjoining St Anne's Church has been approved under the council's Townscape Heritage Initiative.

"The THI is funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund and aims to regenerate key buildings and spaces within the 'heritage corridor'."