A VOLUNTEER has collected rolls and rolls of carpet to help pay for a new staircase at a church school in Great Harwood.

When businessman Duncan Gregory, 38, of St Hubert's Road, Great Harwood, heard the financial tales of woe from vicar of St John's Church, St John's Street, the Rev Brian Derbyshire, he decided he would do his best to help -- and scoured the region for carpets.

Mr Derbyshire had told Mr Gregory St John's Church of England Primary School needed to pay 15 per cent of the cost of a new £10,000 staircase, under its obligations as a voluntary aided school, with the bill working out at £1,500.

The kind-hearted managing director of carpet repair factory Grade A Carpet Remedial Services, Waverledge Street, Great Harwood, persuaded his contacts to give him carpets free of charge so he could auction them off and raise money.

Telephone calls and trips to manufacturers in places as far flung as Dewsbury, Manchester, Huddersfield and Blackburn resulted in more 50 rolls.

He will auction the collection on WednesdayNovember 14 at 6pm in the school hall.

But Mr Gregory, whose daughter Victoria, five, is a pupil at the school, is also looking for a professional auctioneer to add a touch of class to the sale.

He explained: "I really wanted to find a way to help and because I know so many people people in the industry, I thought this would be an excellent way to raise money.

"There will be bargains and I expect a big turnout. But I hope things won't get too frenzied. I don't expect deep piles or axminsters to be on offer, but there will be good quality hessians."

Mr Derbyshire added: "I was a little taken aback when Duncan suggested a carpet auction but now I'm really enthusiastic about it."

"It's something he has organised himself and we're really pleased with his efforts ."

He added: "This is not the first time we have had an unusual way of making money. Five years ago, two police officers took me in handcuffs to the police station and only released me when the we raised enough cash.

"I had just given a sermon and they arrested me for GBH -- grievously bodily hearing."

For more details about the auction, call Duncan on 07780 623309.