Lit spire to become town landmark

Energy-efficient LEDs will be used to light the tower

A 145ft (44.2m) church spire in Swindon is to be lit up at night to give rail passengers and visitors a "new and positive landmark" for the town.

The lights will be officially switched on at St Mark's church in the railway village in a ceremony on Saturday.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said St Mark's was a stunning building and the lighting would showcase it architecturally.

The project cost £19,000 and was paid for by developers in the area.

The church will be lit by energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the building rather than by floodlights.

The council said this allows the church's features to be picked out more effectively and will also minimise light pollution.

St Mark's was dedicated in 1845 and designed by George Gilbert Scott who also designed the Albert memorial and St Pancras railway station in London.