THE writing is on the wall at Wilmslow United Reformed Church.

And now everyone is rolling in the ailes laughing.

The words of wit and wisdom scripted on posters outside the Chapel Lane church have been recognised nationally for their word power.

The church has been commended in a competition aimed at putting humorous slogans in the spotlight.

Over the past three months nominations have been flooding in from churchgoers and members of the public with examples of parish punning and saintly slogans.

Favourites included an example outside the Wilmslow church featuring a picture of liquorice sweets with the message: Allsorts Welcome.

The poster is among those designed by members of the 200 strong parish which are changed every month.

Church elder Michael Williams said: "We have always had welcoming posters outside to make people think as they go past.

"People will look at it and will know that the church is there and welcoming them if they want to come in."

The `allsorts welcome' poster was commended by a panel of judges, including top advertising copywriters, who studied hundreds of entries from churches across the country.

Other short-listed slogans included were `The Ultimate F-Word is Forgiveness', `Forget Big Brother, Speak to Our Father', and `Jesus is the Rock That Doesn't Roll'. Another slogan, posted alongside a busy road, said: `In a Jam? God Preserve Us'.

The winning slogan, from a church in Coventry, featured the words `God Sees Us As We Can Be' with a collection of heads with halos. Then the same heads were pictured without halos with the words `But Loves Us As We are'.