THE year 2001 came in with a bang at Nantwich.

Rockets lit up the sky just after midnight on New Year's Eve, heralded by the bells of St. Mary's.

Although lower key than last year's explosive start to a year of celebrations, the town's festivities provided a fitting end, with the fireworks following an interdenominational church service in the parish church

"It has been a tremendous year and by making its beginning and ending special I hope we have satisfied everyone on both sides of the argument about which New Year really marked the start of the new millennium," said Mrs June Garner.

She has spearheaded the programme of grant funded events throughout 2000 which began with New Year's Day fireworks and revels and has included several concerts and a community play.

"We still have the millennium clock to look forward to. We hope that will be installed in its glass case in the Cocoa Yard later this month. It was originally scheduled to arrive by November, but its maker, Paul Beckett, has faced some technical hitches and, being a perfectionist, has insisted everything is just right before he delivers," Mrs Garner added.

She believes the wait will be well worth it.

"We have been assured by an experienced horologist who has seen the clock that the town will be getting something very special that has been created by a very gifted craftsman," she said.

The New Year's Eve service at St Mary's ended with the congregation carrying lighted Jubilee 2000 candles distributed a year ago out of the building.

"This signified the taking of the light of Christianity out into the town. The worshippers then mingled with the crowd of revellers who had gathered in the town square and so the secular and religious joined as the rockets lit up the sky," added Mrs Garner.