A HISTORIC Radcliffe stained glass window has been given the go ahead to receive a new lease of life.

The window, which depicts the town's coat of arms now looks set to be repositioned in St Thomas and St John Church in Blackburn Street after gaining faculty planning approval and vital funding.

Donated by industrialist Allen Walker in 1935 to celebrate the Radcliffe becoming a borough, the window was originally housed in the town hall, before being moved into storage at Bury Museum when the hall was decommissioned.

Carol Cain, vice-chairman of the Parochial Church Council, said: "The people of Radcliffe have been so generous.

"A lot of heritage has gone from Radcliffe and people felt this was something else that had just disappeared.

"It is an important artefact of Radcliffe but it is very difficult to find a a venue for a window this big, so we wanted to find somewhere to preserve it for posterity and we have done this on behalf of the people of Radcliffe."

At the 150th anniversary of St Thomas and St John it was suggested by a parishioner that the window be tracked down and restored to a position of prominence, being reclaimed from Bury Museum in 2015.

Installation of the window in the church has now received faculty approval from the Manchester diocese leaders, which is essential for alterations and additions to ecclesiastical buildings.

The church has also successfully fundraised, with the help of Radcliffe Heritage Society the necessary £7,000 required to restore the glass, with the project being undertaken by master glass craftsmen RS Glass Design Ltd.

Restoration work is expected to begin after the Christmas period.

David Kerwin, vice chairman of Radcliffe Heritage Society, said: "It is magic, Radcliffe Heritage Society are very very pleased that the window will be going to a place where the sun will shine on it and everybody will be able to see it."