A POPULAR lychgate built as a token of love could fall into disrepair unless a Cliviger church can raise funds for its renovation.

The wooden parts of the gate at St John the Divine are badly decayed and renovation will cost an estimated £14,000.

Normal church funds will not stretch to cover the repairs as it already costs more than £440 a week just to maintain the up-keep of the building.

The much-photographed lychgate was built in 1913 by the then vicar, the Rev Alfred Master-Whitaker, in memory of his wife Mary Charlotte who died the year before.

The roof tiles and stone-work of the structure have survived the ravages of the weather but the wood has not fared so well.

Church warden, Cynthia Taylor, said: "It would be a great shame if we were to lose the lychgate because were were unable to raise the money to save it. It has a great history and is a very popular feature of the church and the village.

"We are hoping that a lot of the money can be raised from grants but obviously any donations are very welcome.

"People from the church have already been very supportive but there may be people out there who have been to the village to visit or who were married or had christenings at the church for whom the lychgate holds special memories. We want to keep it at all costs."

The Cliviger Challenge, a plan for a better community set up earlier this year by the parish council, is looking into ways of achieving grant funding.

Donations can be sent to Church Treasurer, Mrs M Shorrock, at 18 Dyneley Avenue, Cliviger.