THE congregation of St Mary the Virgin in Walkhampton has reason to celebrate this month after marking the completion of the project to re-order the west end of the church.

The church has been brought into the 21st century with a full disabled toilet, kitchen, new platform for bell ringing accessed by a spiral staircase, all finished off with an etched glass screen depicting animals and moorland scenes from the parish.

The Rev Preb Nick Shutt, rector of West Dartmoor Mission Community, said: 'This project was originally conceived in 2003 and it has taken 12 years to bring to fruition as a result of a great deal of hard work, fundraising and generosity from our small but active congregation, the local community and grant making bodies.

'We now have a building which can be used by the church and wider community.

'During the summer months we will open on various afternoons and hope to run a series of special events of interest to walkers, artists and musicians.'