FIREFIGHTERS took just four and a half minutes to set Leigh Parish Church alight - and create a new world record.

Their high-speed attack on the Guinness Book of Records on Sunday boosted the newly launched tower rebuilding fund by £2,000.

A team of ten members of Leigh Fire Station's White Watch look set to rewrite the record book after successfully illuminating 1,000 candles on a giant cake in Leigh's Spinning Gate shopping centre.

Guinness officials were on hand at the event and the result - which passed the current record of 900 - is awaiting conformation.

The vicar of Leigh, the Rev Terry Challis, lit the first candle of the £120,000 appeal's opening event. Then the firefighters, using tapers, lit the massive cake, baked in the shape of the church, and donated by Leigh bakers, Waterfields.

George Bridge, a member of the Tower Refurbishment Committee, said: "The firemen were terrific. It was a wonderful day and everything went according to plan. There were two scrutineers observing the record attempt -- it went perfectly."

This was the first in a series of events being organised to raise funds towards the cost of rebuilding the 500-year-old church tower, which has a dangerous parapet.

The parish has £38,000 set aside for the task and is hoping a Heritage Lottery grant will enable work to start next summer.

A public appeal has been launched and a nine-strong committee has been set up.

The group of enthusiasts is meeting regularly to plan a series of fund-raising events throughout the year.

These include a quiz night, youth band concert, choral concert mass, gift day and exhibition, fun and games evening, a craft day, a sponsored abseil down the tower and a fire brigade climb up the tower.

Member Kit Gawith said: "The candle lighting was amazing, a great start to the appeal." RECORD BREAKERS: The record-breaking White Watch team from Leigh fire HQ were Station Officer Larry Green, Sub Officer Terry Peers and firefighters Mick Dugdale, Mark Francis, Nick Hunter, Gary Mercer, Ged Rourke, Chris Scott, Geoff Sidlow and Jimmy Weir