15318/2PARISHIONERS at St John's Church in Devizes have been rolling up their sleeves and getting out the scrubbing brushes to give the church some spit and polish before it reopened yesterday.

The church had to close after the heating system was pronounced unserviceable. The contractors replaced the pipes, radiators and boiler, at a cost of £60,000.

Canon John Record said: "We had groups turn up, setting up scaffolding towers and tall ladders and giving the ceiling and the beams a good clean.

"We have had everyone from children and their parents, through young adults and people who have been recently married in the church, right up to the old guard."