A NINE-strong committee has congregated to save the historic Leigh Parish Church tower.

Its mission is to raise the £110,000 needed to make the Grade II listed 16th century building safe by August next year.

And the Tower Power group intends to set the massive fund-raising ball rolling in an illuminating way later this month with an attempt on a Guinness Book of Records performance.

A Thousand Candle Challenge has been organised for the Spinning Gate Centre, and a public appeal will also be launched and a grant sought from the National Lottery.

Tower Refurbishment Committee member George Bridge said: "The problems of the tower will not go away. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century and last restored in the early years of the 20th century.

"This fine Leigh landmark has provided a focus for religious and community life for 500 years and those years have taken their toll.

"The last inspection revealed faults which, if left unchecked, would lead to further deterioration of the roof and the possibility of falling masonry."

The main structural problem is to the wrought iron bracing ring which runs just below the upper parapet. As it has rusted, the ring has expanded and is threatening to dislodge the stones above.

The remedy is to remove the parapet stone by stone, replace the ring with a stainless-steel equivalent and rebuild the parapet. At the same time, the tower will be re-roofed and the lead flashing and gutter boarding renewed.

George said: "The repair will restore the tower so that it will not need any more work for another hundred years."

In addition to the committee's work, a group of church enthusiasts led by Kit Gawith is meeting regularly to plan a series of fund-raisers, including concerts, craft days and a sponsored abseil down the tower.

The launch will take place in the Spinning Gate centre on June 24 when 1,000 candles sponsored by the public and companies at £1 a time will be lit on a massive 5ft cake donated by Leigh bakers, Waterfields.

George added: "The problem is not the size of the cake or even the number of candles, but merely the time taken to finish lighting all the candles before the first have gone out."

The committee is made up of the vicar, the Rev Terry Challis, George and Stella Bridge, Alice Judge, David and Shelagh Mayes and three "expert" co-opted members retired estate agent Ian Brogden, retired architect Bryan Kay and Peter Hatton.

Anyone who has any fund-raising suggestions should contact Kit Gawith, through the church.