IT USED to adorn one of Bolton's churches, a pipe organ which struck joy in the hearts of many a congregation.

So when church officials decided it was time to give it away, Bolton pipe organ enthusiast John Hinterreiter jumped at the chance to acquire it - and ship it to Australia.

The organ will be dismantled, packed into boxes and sent down under at a cost of nearly £9,000.

But IT worker Mr Hinterreiter, who used to live in Chesterfield and Oldham but now resides in Melbourne, says it is worth every penny.

He said: "It's sad that there are many unused church organs around - but at least I've managed to rescue one."

Mr Hinterreiter saw the organ - which was used in the former Bolton United Reformed Church on Somerset Road, Heaton - advertised for free online and decided he wanted it.

It is in full working order and was carefully dismantled and packed by David Wells Organ Builders of Liverpool.

The organ is due to arrive in Melbourne before the end of August. Mr Hinterreiter, an organ player himself who emigrated to Australia almost 30 years ago, said: "It's a nice feeling having brought something from my home."

He says it will take him between six to eight months to rebuild the enormous instrument.

He is also desperate to discover the story behind the instrument.

The pipe organ was built in 1870 by a mill owner, although little else is known about it's history.

Mr Hinterreiter also wants to chronicle the story of it's relocation on the other side of the world.

The organ will be the second item to be shipped to Australia this year. Eight bells from the former St George's Church in Bolton now reside in the Australian town of Wangaratta, Victoria, which bought them for around £1,200. Cast more than 200 years ago they are now believed to be the oldest bells in Australia.