The chapel at the Newton Road cemetery in Rushden has been plastered and redecorated during the past six weeks. Its new look was officially unveiled for the first time yesterday.

The project is the first of its kind to be carried out as the result of a new partnership between the probation service and Rushden Town Council.

Town council leader Colin Wright said: "The work on the chapel is something we have wanted to do for a while but we have not been able to prioritise it because we have been working on the larger project to regenerate the town.

"The people involved in this initiative have been very conscientious and their work is a credit to them.

"They are repaying the wrong they have done to society and I believe this project will have benefited them as well as the wider community.

"I have no doubt that we will work with the probation service on similar projects in the future."

Rushden Town Council clerk Peter Fraser added: "We are delighted with the results and look forward to them carrying out future projects for the council."

About eight people worked at the chapel every week under the guidance of Unpaid Work Unit supervisor Daniel Freeman.

Probation service officer Gary Edwards said: "The chapel was looking a little rundown so we have had a mixture of men and women working there since the end of April doing jobs around the place like painting and plastering.

"Everyone involved in the project has been really motivated and they have worked together really well as a team.

"We're very pleased with the outcome of the project and hope to work with the council again."