A community is rallying around its historic and popular church which is in need of urgent repairs.

Saint Mary’s Church in Dalton 800 years old and is home to the town's annual Christmas Tree Festival, but guardians of the building have become increasingly fearful of the state of the roof and are now appealing for aid.

The roof is made of a rare green slate which costs twice as much as grey slate and to fix the leaks the bill is estimated at £20,000.

On Monday May 23, church warden Barbara Irwin, 69, a resident of Dalton for 21 years, is taking part in a 'sponsored hair dye' to raise funds for the building. She will transform her locks in to shocking purple tresses to bring in extra funds. 

She said: "The roof started leaking when water began running down the pillars and we had buckets everywhere and were constantly having to mop things up." 

"When we inspected the roof we found that it was the slates that were damaged.

"The church is very close to my heart and I think many people would be sad to see it actually go. My own grandparents got married there and so did my parents. 

"Even the children appreciate it – when they visit from their schools, the vicar always asks how would they rebuild the church if it was destroyed by a fire? They all say that they would rebuild it exactly the same – stone by stone."

With the church not having a vicar, the churchwardens agreed to start fund-raising and so a Roof Fund was opened. So far £1,600 has been raised from a retro night held on Shrove Tuesday.

The wardens are urging people to attend the sponsored hair dye on Monday May 23 at 7pm in the church centre. People will also be able to ‘Sign a Slate’. For £5 donations, patrons can have their name signed on the roof slates before they are eventually fitted.