WORK to repair the worn bell tower at St Peter's Church in Norton is underway following a fundraising drive.

An appeal was launched last year to raise funds for the bell tower which needs a new roof and repairs to the stone work to make it watertight and safe.

About £14,000 was raised through individual gifts, donations and fundraising events. St Peter's was also given £77,100 from a fund designed to help places of worship.

The tower, which was the last part of the church to be built between 1910 and 1913, is 99ft and cost £1,052 with stone quarried at Levisham.

Reverend Rachel Hirst, vicar of St Peter’s, said a number of years ago some of the stonework on the top of the tower had became unstable and was laid on the roof as there was no money to repair it.

“The lead roof has been patched up many times and early this year we noticed the roof was leaking inside,” she said. “A subsequent inspection led to declaring the roof unsafe for anyone to go up on, so we needed to restore and repair the stonework and replace the lead roof, along with a few other minor items of work.”

Rev Hirst said the tower’s ringing chamber held a peal of eight bells which were put in place between 1925 and 1946 and were considered one of the best peals in the country with people coming from far and wide to ring them.

“Work on St Peter's Bell Tower has now started and will involve masonry work, replacing the tower roof, installing safety rails and a few other things. It is expected to be finished sometime in the new year," she said.

"We are hugely grateful to everyone in the local community and in the church who has contributed money to the appeal.

"We have been very touched by the interest and imagination people have shown in giving us donations - local organisations and clubs, Norton Primary School, funeral collections and many more. Thank you to each person and group."

Rev Hirst said: "Following our success in being awarded a grant from the Historic Churches Roof Repair Fund we are now able to close the appeal as we have sufficient to meet the costs.

"However, like most churches we are always grateful for donations to our general funds to meet other repairs and to help with our costs so if people want to carry on supporting us they can."

Rev Hirst said: "We hope that next year we can hold an open day so people can come into the church and hopefully take trips up the bell tower to see the work and the amazing view."