THE Evesham church which became the first environmentally-friendly congregation in the UK has moved closer to completing its restoration, thanks to a recycling programme.

Evesham Methodist Church beat every other church in Britain to become the UK's first "Eco-congregation", an initiative backed by the national environmental charity ENCAMS.

Under the initiative, the congregation has been encouraged to walk, cycle or car share to services, as well as recycle waste including spectacles, stamps and mobile phones.

But the congregation has proven that being environmentally aware was not only good for the planet, it was also good for the church building, after cashing in aluminium drink cans collected by worshippers.

The church raised £1,000 through its campaign, which was part of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation Limited - alupro - "make things happen" initiative.

The church received £500 for the 60,000 cans it collected, as well as another £500 from alupro for taking part in the initiative, which will be put towards the £200,000 needed to carry out work on the church.

So far, the church has raised £125,000 for the work, which includes removing a suspended ceiling so the original roof and stained glass window can be seen.

Church member and former conservation architect with Worcestershire County Council, Graham Gooderham, who co-ordinated the initiative to become an eco-congregation, said recycling the tins had meant the congregation had doubled its fund-raising efforts.

"We are very pleased and intend to continue our collecting and recycling of the cans," he said. Although £1,000 may not seem a lot out of the total needed, it is still £1,000 towards it.

Important

"It's better to have it than not have it, and apart from the money it means we are doing our bit for the environment, which is important to us."

The Rev Stephen Mullings, minister at the Bridge Street church, said he hoped others would follow the example set by the congregation.

"I am very pleased at how the recycling initiative has gone, but it is the way the whole of society should be going," he said.

"We should all be recycling in a big way and not just throwing away the vast amounts of rubbish we produce. We are custodians of the planet and have a responsibility to look after it."