YORK craftspeople are playing a major role in a massive refurbishment of an historic Scottish church.

Tens of thousands of pounds are being spent to restore St Mungo's RC Church, in Glasgow.

One of the main parts of the work - replacing sculpted statues of Christ and the Madonna - is being carried out by Andrian Melka, who works at the Dick Reid studio in Fishergate. The Christ statue is to be placed underneath a new rose window, being made by Osbaldwick-based stonemason William Anelay.

Mr Reid said: "This is a major work and Andrian has done very well indeed. It hasn't especially surprised me, he is the most talented man I have had at the studios for some time.

"We hope the work will be completed within eight weeks so it can be transported to Glasgow and put in place.

"It is good news for York. There is a fine tradition of crafts here and the involvement with these works at St Mungo's are a continuation of that."

George Goldie, the architect who designed St Mungo's, also designed St Wilfred's RC Church, in Duncombe Place, York, and Upsall Castle, in Thirsk.

Updated: 09:11 Wednesday, January 15, 2003