A CHURCH which is seeking to repair its crumbling roof is aiming for work to be completed by spring next year.

St Peter’s Church is in the process of bidding for more than £300,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to fix the roof and has received the first grant for the development stage.

The church has used the £11,670 initial funding to hire a consultant and architect and now surveys and inspections will be carried out to work out a plan going forward.

The roof needs to be restored on the North and South aisle due to water seeping in.

Rev David Stephenson, the church's curate, said: “We do hope that the whole thing will be finished by spring next year.

“We will be submitting our application for the rest of the money in September.

“Our consultation events in March went really well.”

The church must also find £17,000 as this will be a required contribution if the final grant bid is successful.

The project will add to work which has already been done to restore the nave and tower roofs several years ago.

Fundraising events are to be staged to raise extra funds.