VILLAGERS are being asked to keep on digging deep for the restoration appeal of a Craven church to help safeguard it for future generations.

Parishioners were told at a meeting last night that the guardians of Holy Trinity Church in Rathmell will need to find around £15,000 to add to cash already pledged for the project.

The drive to find money to restore the church, consecrated in 1843, has been under way for some time. But it has recently been discovered that major extra work needs to be carried out on the church tower.

The church is a grade two listed building, which has rare and nationally-important stained glass windows.

Grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, church funds and other donations have helped the church obtain much of the more than £210,000 needed for refurbishment.

The Rev Hilary Young, vicar of Rathmell, Settle and Giggleswick churches, said: "We are trying to make people aware of the situation - and to thank them for the superb work they have done so far.

"This is a small community but there is a lot of goodwill towards the restoration and a lot of people have worked very hard to achieve what we have so far. Now we need a bit more of a push. Once this work is done it should take the pressure off those who follow us and safeguard the building for another 100 years.

"We are looking for support and funding from church members, the local and wider community and some specialist charities."

Urgent repairs are needed to the roof and the internal woodwork, while the organ also needs attention. Work also need to be done to make internal and external access to the tower clock and the belfry safer, and the church's heating system needs a major upgrade.

Works should start either towards the end of this year or early in 2016 if the appeal is successful.

Donations can be sent to the treasurer Sue Shepherd, 2 Mount Pleasant, Wigglesworth, Skipton BD23 4RN.