A GRADE I listed church has been transformed following work by 13 offenders on Community Payback.

The Humberside, Lincolnshire & North Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company scheme has seen a major makeover in and around St Mary and All Saints Church, Cundall, near Thirsk.

The work has involved teams of people on unpaid work orders clearing weeds from the graveyard, undergrowth and re-installing fallen gravestones opening up the space to visitors.

It has also seen the renovation of the 19th century nave, removal of peeling plaster, the walls and ceilings painted and work on the church’s ancient roof timbers.

Among the community payback workers were a group of experienced builders and plasterers who helped renovate parts of the vestry and main tower.

Offenders are now putting the finishing touches to the church by helping to rebuild more than 50 metres of the perimeter stone wall.

Peter Stanley, treasurer and secretary of Cundall Parochial Church Council, said: “The church desperately needed repainting and decorating and they did a smashing job – it really was a professional job.

"What really impressed me was that the supervisors treated the community payback workers as human beings and as a result they worked their socks off and seemed to get real satisfaction out of it.”

He estimates that the work carried out under the scheme saved the church council more than £15,000.

Community Payback aims to rehabilitate offenders through working on projects that benefit the community.

Nigel Tapley, local resident and a bench chairman at Northallerton Magistrates Court, said: “As a magistrate I have always seen unpaid work as something as a soft option, but after this I can see the human side of Community Payback and the pride taken in the work done by the offenders.”

“It’s also enabled us to do a lot of things we would not have been able to do without the help of HLNY CRC and the offenders its supports.”

Martin Davies, chief executive of HLNY CRC, said: “Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law but it is also a way for offenders to learn new skills and to support their rehabilitation.

"Working on this and other similar projects across North Yorkshire means offenders not only give something back to the community but it teaches them valuable practical skills which can lead to future employment.”

Over the past 12 months HLNY CRC has supervised a wide range of community payback projects across North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Humberside bringing real benefits to the communities.