Reading the gas meter would not normally be a remarkable event. However the meter reading at St Mary's Church this week was a very memorable event.

St Mary's is in the middle of a major refurbishment and as part of this they needed to replace their boiler house.

"Our old boiler house looked a bit unsightly and ramshackle," said The Reverend Sarah Jones.

"As part of all the work which we are doing to the church we needed a new boiler house which will last us for many years to come. It had to fit in with the existing look of the church and so we used local materials and got an architect to design it."

Sarah added: "The work has been going on for many weeks now but it was hidden behind the site fencing which has only just been removed."

When Mr Bayliss of Accuread called in order to read the meter Sarah had not even been to the boiler house and she didn't have a key. "I called Tim Waters, one of the church wardens and he met us and let us in. I couldn't believe how handsome it is," she said. "I'd seen the drawings but it only looks real now that it's built. I'd say that we have the best looking boiler house in the county."

Tim Waters the churchwarden said:?"I should think it might even be the best looking boiler house in the country - let alone the county!"

Work will soon begin on the iconic spire which is a Ross landmark.