SAINT Bartholomew's Church council is enlisting the help of flower power to raise money for its restoration fund.

Villagers in Church Minshull are urging visitors and residents to come along to a fantastic flower festival planned for this weekend at the church.

St Bartholomew's, built during Queen Anne's reign in 1702, has undergone almost £200,000 of restoration since it was closed down for health and safety reasons in 2004, but the church council are still a few thousand pounds short to complete the refurbishment of the tower.

A team of members of the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS) have spent five days adorning the church with spectacular thematic arrangements of Country Life' including tributes to farming, the wharf, the village blacksmith and much more.

Local children have also contributed posies to the maypole in the church grounds.

The festival is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Audrey Colquhoun, Parochial Church Council secretary, said: "There will be some beautiful flowers. Entry is free to the festival although donations would be apprectiated to help meet the £92,000 costs of making the church tower safe once again."

Saturday evening will see a special concert at the church by Crewe Lions Youth Band starting at 7.30pm with tickets costing £6 for adults and £4 for under 16s.