A HISTORIC stained glass window from Radcliffe's past could be brought back to the town.

Church leaders from the parish of St Thomas and St John are set to launch a fundraising campaign to restore the window, which depicts Radcliffe's coat of arms.

The window, which is more than 80 years old, was previously housed in the old town hall and was then taken to be stored at Bury Museum.

Plans are now coming together to raise around £7,000 to restore the decorative window and have it installed at the church, in Blackburn Street.

Carol Cain, vice-chairman of the Parochial Church Council, said: "When Radcliffe was made a borough in 1935, an industrialist called Walker Allen gave the town this civic window.

"It used to be in the town hall, but when the town hall was decommissioned the window seemed to disappear and nobody knew where it was.

"It was the church's 150th anniversary two years ago and we said then that we would like to put a stained glass window in the church, but we couldn't afford it.

"Somebody then suggested that we try and find the old window from the town hall, and we discovered it at Bury Museum.

"It is quite badly damaged and it looks like it was removed quite roughly when it was removed, but it is not beyond repair."

The window is currently waiting to be repaired at RS Glass Designs, in Bolton, and diocese leaders in Manchester have agreed in principle to the installation once the experts have completed the restoration.

She added: "In total, I think we will need to raise about £7,000 to get it repaired and installed.

"It's up to the people of Radcliffe. This is their window and their heritage. Unfortunately, the town has lost a lot of that over the years.

"The church is just a venue for it, and there aren't really many places where it could go.

"The important thing is that this window is back in Radcliffe, where it belongs."

The church is planning to start fundraising efforts in the coming weeks.