OTLEY'S grimy chandeliers have been restored to their former glittering glory - after an expert wash and brush up.

Just three weeks ago, the town council had drawn a blank in finding a firm willing to take on the delicate job of cleaning the two Waterford Crystal chandeliers - each worth £5,000. But following an appeal in The Wharfedale, specialist cleaners were uncovered in Derby and on Monday, the lights were cleaned and polished to perfection.

Mike and Sheena Haytack, of Abbey Chandeliers, took six hours to clean the two lights which take pride of place in the civic centre's Chippendale Room.

Each light was stripped in situ to the framework before each of the around 400 pieces was washed and polished before being put back.

"They are very good quality, each separate part is en-graved with the name Waterford Crystal," said Mr Haytack.

Mr Haytack, who together with his wife travels around the country cleaning chandeliers, said the largest example he cleaned was at a private house in Stoke Poges.

"Its about eight feet tall and six feet across and will be worth between £50,000 to £80,000," he said.

He added it was fortunate that the centre was a no smoking area.

"We clean some where people can smoke and getting the nicotine off can be very difficult because its very greasy."

After cleaning chandeliers for more than 20 years, the couple are well used to references to the Trotter family in the comedy Only Fools and Horses when the cleaning of a chandelier goes disastrously wrong.

"We hear it all the time, but we'd never clean chandeliers like they did, we always take them apart while they're still up," said Mrs Haytack.

Iain Plumtree, town council clerk, said he was delighted with the cleaning and would be keeping the Haytacks contact details on record.

"We're very pleased with the job and its good to see them restored to their glittering glory. Its interesting to see how much light is reflected off them when they are properly cleaned."