A CATHEDRAL devastated by New Zealand's deadly 2016 earthquake has enlisted a Bicester company's help.

The Kiwi capital Wellington was left in ruins in November 2016 by the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake.

Among the hardest-hit buildings was the city's St Paul's Cathedral, which saw its famous pipe organ rendered inoperable.

Now, Bicester organ makers Regent Classic Organs, in Telford Road, have been called on to help replace the vital asset.

The challenge is to design and build the new 400kg instrument then send it halfway around the world in working condition.

Business owner David Mason said: "After the earthquake, the cathedral’s pipe organ was so badly damaged it was inoperable.

"We shipped a small, interim organ to the cathedral which meant that its extensive music programme could continue, but now we are proud that a new, more permanent, organ, hand-crafted here in Oxfordshire, will be providing a lasting musical legacy in Wellington."

The tailor-made, light oak instrument has been designed to complement the timber of the existing cathedral furniture.

It will be the biggest single instrument the Regent Classic team have ever installed.

Regent Classic’s instruments are built using ‘physis’ technology – a computer-generated physical model of an organ pipe.

The Bicester firm has previously been commissioned by some of this country's top institutions, including York Minister and Canterbury Cathedral, plus local churches including St Mary's in Witney.

The New Zealand project is the most remote commission it has ever taken on.

Wellington Cathedral organist and director of music Michael Stewart said: "The cathedral's music department is based on an English cathedral model of quality sacred choral music and we needed to source the highest sound quality for our congregation.

"After playing various digital organs it was clear that the Regent Classic instrument exceeded all our expectations."

The new organ is expected to be installed during the first two weeks of October and will serve as a long-term interim instrument while cathedral leaders evaluate the feasibility of replacing the original pipe organ.

For more details on the Bicester-based business see regentclassicorgans.com