MORE than 200 people visited St Mary's Church in less than two hours to see a cross sent on a world tour by the Pope.

Father Kevin Hennessey, assistant priest at the church in Tovey Road, was astonished to see 25 people in the building within minutes of its arrival at 6.30am.

The World Youth Day Cross had already travelled around 31,250 miles and was resting in Swindon on its way to Clifton Cathedral in Bristol where students from schools, colleges and universities throughout the diocese took part in a day of workshops.

Among them were students from St Joseph's School.

Fr Hennessey, who took charge of the cross while it was in the diocese, decided to open the church so Swindon worshippers could see it.

Deacon Shaun Murphy, 76, said: "The cross that Pope John Paul II has sent around the world is powerfully symbolic.

"I was amazed by the way it seems to touch people who see it, but mostly by the enthusiasm, faith and love of the people who came to St Mary's early in the morning and the young people who gathered at Clifton."

The cross left Clifton for Shrewsbury after the event on Tuesday.