IN the first dawn of the new millennium, hundreds of snowdrops will be forming a cross in front of Cutcombe Parish Church.

Snowdrops are traditionally Nature's first offering of the year and the parishioners of St John's Church are hoping their 'Millennium Cross' will spring into life at the same time as the new century.

They have planted two layers of bulbs - about 500 altogether - to produce the reminder of the birth of Christ year after year.

The turf was cut and the area pegged out by Major General Edwin Beckett, with a helper, and some bulbs in the lower layer were planted last Thursday.

On Sunday, licensed reader George Taylor conducted a special morning prayer service at which the preacher was the Rev. David Coates, pictured on the left.

After the service, they planted the first top layer bulbs: "The children of Cutcombe and some of the villagers then planted the rest," said Mr Taylor, pictured on the right.

"We call it our Millennium Cross - it's a lasting way of marking the year 2000," said Mr Taylor.