TAVISTOCK Parish Church has greeted the New Year with a project to clean the inside of its windows.

It is believed that the last time the windows were cleaned was 40 to 50 years ago.

Church architect Sue Spackman has advised parishioners that whereas rainwater removes some dirt from the outside of the windows, there is nothing to prevent condensation attracting dust particles to the inside.

Cleaning the windows, she said, will improve the light in St Eustachius' church by up to 50 per cent.

The windows will be cleaned professionally, and parishioners are contributing to the costs of cleaning a window of their choice. Already, support has been pledged for half the windows of the church.

'This is a great way to begin the New Year,' said priest-in-charge the Rev Michael Brierley.

'There's great symbolism in what we're doing — our aim as a church is to let others see more clearly what goes on inside, and to let the wonderful things that go on in the church radiate outwards.'

The project is being co-ordinated by church member Alan Johnson.

'We're enormously grateful to the groups and individuals who are contributing to this exciting spring-clean,' he said.

People who are interested in the project should contact Mr Johnson on 01822 612527.