A scheme to present a Millennium candle to every household in Britain has been branded a flop by the candle-maker.

Price's Candles, based in Launton Road, Bicester, has made four million of the white candles for the Church of England.

But take-up of the candles, which are accompanied by a prayer, has been poor.

Factory manager Malcolm Pryme said: "The project didn't go very well.

"It was hoped that the response would be significant, but that hasn't happened. We were contracted to a group of churches to produce the candles, but they encountered various marketing problems. "The scheme did not receive a good press and it didn't take off as we expected."

Mr Pryme added: "The production line was running for only a few months and it didn't affect our general output.

"The candles we made have been sent to parishes across the country." The firm has made other souvenir candles to tie in with the Millennium, along with engraved silverware and pots.

Mr Pryme said: "Our Millennium candles have sold well. Christmas is normally a busy time for us, but the Millennium has made it even busier."

Fire officers in Oxfordshire had raised concerns about the scheme because of fire risks.

Story date: Thursday 16 December

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