A VILLAGE pub will offer more than just pints in July when church services begin every Sunday for the new local Baptist church.

There are plans to build a new church on the site of the former Ebeneezer Doal, Burnley Road, Weir, but until the single-storey building is constructed the local Weir Hotel has kindly offered its premises for services.

Church Pastor Neil Hepworth will be inducted on July 7 at Trinity Baptist Church, Bacup, and hold his first 'pub church' service at 10.45am on July 8.

There will also be an open air service in the village which has yet to be arranged.

Father-of-four Neil, of Douglas Road, Bacup, is looking to sell his house and move into the village to be nearer his flock.

Neil said: "We had a film crew from the Baptist Union in Weir, at the pub and also meeting local people and members of the home mission.

"They filmed about four or five minutes for the North West section of the video they produce annually and we should have it available for people to view after the first local service."

Landlady at the Weir Barbara Walmsley said: "I am looking forward to welcoming the church here."

Neil said: "We will be writing to various bodies and trusts looking to raise the money needed to build the church."