METHODISTS in Rodbourne held a service of thanks in their new chapel.

The Rodbourne Methodist Community's 100-year-old former chapel was demolished in April as it was felt to be too costly to maintain and too large for the congregation.

And in a £180,000 project, a 1950s hall next door to the former chapel, on Rodbourne Road, has been converted into a new place of worship.

Minister Janet Evans said: "It was a lovely day. There was a full house at the new chapel, with representatives from the Methodist community throughout Swindon mingling with our normal congregation. There were about 120 people there."

A one-hour service was followed by a rededication ceremony to officially designate the building as a new chapel. Work carried out at the new building includes creating a new entrance, which is easily accessible to wheelchair users.

The bulk of the money came from the sale of a former Methodist chapel in Manchester Road and through local donations.