A derelict Victorian church in a picturesque village is being transformed into open plan offices for environmental groups at a cost of £260,000.

Work started this week on renovating the former United Reformed church - built in 1882 - in Village Street, Norwood Green.

Resident Beatie Horsfall, 61, of Watford Avenue, who has lived in the village for 41 years and is secretary of its Good Companions social club for the over 50s, said: "The church is a lovely building and I would rather see it used as offices than pulled down or turned into flats.''

The building is to open in June as the Cobbett Environmental Enterprise Centre - named after the 18th century MP and environmentalist William Cobbett.

The centre will become the new headquarters of Urban Mines, a non-profit-making environmental organisation based in the Yorkshire Electricity offices in Parry Lane, Bradford.

The work is being funded through sponsorship, including land-fill tax paid by companies who dump waste.

It was formed three years ago by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and environmental consultant Geoff Wright with a £70,000 grant from the Environment Agency to set up recycling and regeneration initiatives.

The project co-ordinator James Horne said: "Barry lives in Norwood Green near the church and when he found out it was on the market he thought it would make a great environmental enterprise centre.

"We bought the building 18 months ago for £90,000. It had been empty for about two years and was closed because of the dwindling congregation.

"As well as being our new headquarters we will be encouraging small environmental groups to move in to share our expertise, resources and pool ideas.

"Part of the building will also double as a conference room and as a meeting place for the community, with space for 30 to 40 people.

"We are also trying to keep many of the features in the church such as the altar rails, the panelling and old cupboards at the back.''

Urban Mines runs projects involving the recycling of computers, printers and timber and is planning to set up a recycling centre in 2001 to reuse waste glass, plastics and timber produced by firms.

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