Derelict church for sale at last

AN abandoned church in the city's Old Town is to be given a new lease of life after years of campaigning.

The Italian government has put the former United Presbyterian church on Blackfriars Street – which was once earmarked to become an Italian cultural centre but was never developed – on the market.

Campaigners including singer Annie Lennox and entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer are among those who previously urged the Vatican and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to intervene to prevent the building falling into ruin.

City artist Richard Demarco said: "It has to be brought back into some kind of cultural use. It's a magnificent space and it would be a disaster if it became a hostel or hotel."