A COMMUNITY church will be closed this Christmas for the first time in its 150-year history.

Millom's St George's Church will remain empty this weekend as churchgoers will be forced to mark the occasion elsewhere.

The church first closed its doors in August when work began to replace the building's antiquated heating system.

It was also discovered that the church has an asbestos problem - but it was hoped to be open again as usual by the beginning of October.

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Almost three months later and work is nearly completed but the delay has had a serious impact on Christmas celebrations in the town.

Priest-in-charge of Millom Benefice, the Rev Clive Shaw said: "We've been hoping that St George's would be open for Christmas. It's nearly done but unfortunately it's not going to be open.

"It is very disappointing but it's nobody's fault.

"It's just one of those things but I think it is the first time in the history of the place that there won't have been a Christmas service."

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Services will now take place in the medieval church of Holy Trinity, on the outskirts of the town.

The family service, Crib and Christingle, will take place at Holy Trinity at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

A more traditional Christmas service will take place on Christmas morning at 10am, also at Holy Trinity.

On New Year's Day, members of the congregation will head to Millom Baptist Church in Crown Street for a special Churches Together service at 10am.

Although Mr Shaw is saddened that this important celebration won't take place at St George's, he hopes that everyone continues to celebrate and is reaching out to new members at this special time of year.

He said: "Christmas calls you with a timeless story that is at the heart of everything we celebrate and it's an opportunity to come and be thankful for all the things that we do enjoy - despite life throwing inconveniences like closed churches."