EXPENSIVE repairs on a Grade-2 listed front of an Old Town church are underway after Storm Eunice caused damage.
Strong winds blew through Swindon two months ago, knocking bricks onto parked cars, felling trees onto roads and sending debris flying.
Bath Road Methodist Church did not escape unscathed as part of the historic religious site got chipped away by the gales.
Scaffolding has now covered the eye-catching stonework and glass of the church's front facade while experts carefully repair the damage.
Steve Sparkes helps manage the building.
He said: "We were lucky, given everything else that went on during the storm.
"All our tiles are nailed on because they used to keep coming off, but at the top of each pinnacle is a finial - a decoration made of stone that's the size of a primary school globe.
"During the storm, one of those broke off, fell, bounced off the floor like a cannonball, hit one set of tiles, and ricocheted into another set.
"Everything on the front is listed so we have a legal obligation to repair it right away. We were delighted that our insurers were willing to pay for this - otherwise, it would have cost us £12-15,000."
The church was built in 1880 and underwent a refurbishment in 1983. The team who look after it as a not-for-profit community hub had just finished carrying out a new array of little tweaks and improvements - then the storm came.
Steve added: "The scaffolding going up to fix the finials has allowed us to do other minor repairs, like re-pointing and reinspecting parts of the front. It was a blessing in disguise, in a way.
"The stonemasons and roofers have come and gone, so this should be fixed by the end of the week.
"It's been hard work, but we should be alright for a long time now and we hope the community uses the building more."
Along with the main altar and pews - with good acoustics for sermons and hymns - there are large rooms below ground which can be used for community groups, social events or Brownies and Scouts meetings.
On the top of the roof is an ornamental garden hewn from stone from the Town Gardens. It looks out from one of the highest points in Swindon at the top of the hill. Take a look at the view here.
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