JEHOVAH'S Witnesses from across the South West have been heading to Minehead - but not for a holiday.

Members of the local congregation of the Christian-based denomination has been saving for the past 15 years to build their own place of worship -a Kingdom Hall.

And after securing a site on Minehead's Mart Road estate, they are currently in the process of constructing a 165-seater centre for bible education.

But although they called in contractors to help clear the site, the new building is being put up by volunteers - over just three weekends.

Spokesman for the Minehead congregation Larry Jones said around 200 fellow believers from across the region, including Cornwall and the Channel Islands, would be helping.

"What makes this such an unusual build is that all the workers are volunteers," said Mr Jones.

"They will be travelling long distances and giving their time and energy free of charge to help their fellow Witnesses."

A former workshop on the site was demolished and members of the local congregation and other volunteers had been working hard to prepare the site well before the actual building work got underway.

Elder Allan Peppin said: "Delivery drivers, visitors and passers-by have commented on the lovely atmosphere on the site but they cannot believe that such a high-spec building could be built in just three weeks.

"We explain that Jehovah's Witnesses have been quick at building places for worship all over the world for many years.

"Highly trained individuals are organised into regional build committees who arrange trade team volunteers to support local congregations in building their Kingdom Halls."

Photo: Steve Guscott