PARISHIONERS face a race against time to save a historic church in Holcombe.

Part of Emmanuel Church at Holcombe is in a "dangerous" condition and repairs to the clock tower need to be carried out before the start of winter.

Without structural work the onset of bad weather could lead to one of the church buttresses failing.

A staggering £20,000 needs to be raised to fund the repairs to the building which dates back to 1853.

Church officials are desperately applying for grants and appealing for donations, some of which have already been made by generous parishioners. And parishioners are to start their fund-raising drive with a Gift Day tomorrow at the church from 9.30am until 12.30pm and then at the church centre, the Canon Lewis Hall, from 1.30pm until 4pm. A prayer evening will be held at church tonight (Friday June 15) at 8pm to launch the campaign.

Scaffolding has already been erected around the church to make safe the buttress which had moved. But it will have to be dismantled and rebuilt.

The church has undergone renovation work in the past to rid it of dry rot, but the building has sustained a number of fractures over the years.

Church treasurer, Dr Peter Lockett, said: "We only found out the cost of the work this week. It really is all systems go to raise the money. We have already had loans but obviously need more."

He added: "The church had to be closed while scaffolding was erected but it is open as usual now."

Anyone who wishes to make a donation should attend the Gift Day or ring 01204886746.