A CHURCH is attempting to raise £300,000 to pay for vital renovations.

Dalton Community Church has launched a ‘Build a Block’ scheme to pay for major upgrades to the building.

The money would be used to modernise the facilities at the church and hall in the town’s Market Street.

The church needs to have around £330,000 raised or promised before the work can begin and has already raised around £200,000.

The money has come through legacies, a loan, gifts and and events.

In the Buy a Block scheme people are asked to donate £2 per block with the church aiming for a target of £900 blocks needed to rebuild the wall along the back of the building.

The wall will also form the back of the new kitchen and toilet extension.

Margaret Harrison, the trustees' secretary for the church, said: "The money will be used in a refurbishment project which will greatly modernise the existing facilities.

"This major project includes raising the hall floor so that it is on the same level as the church, and demolishing and replacing the existing kitchen and toilet facilities.

"Currently the only toilet accessible in a wheelchair is in an outbuilding at the back of the church, so the new extension will provide much better facilities for those less mobile.

"The hall is a regular venue for Saturday Coffee Mornings and are a popular venue on the Dalton social scene."

A boost for the fundraising effort came in the form of a recent grant for almost £7,000.

It received a cheque for £6,825 from the AllChurches Trust.

The grant money will be put towards the installation of new boilers and radiators in the building.

Fundraising activities in the near future, which will both take place at the church, include a Coffee Morning on Saturday January 11 from 9.30 to 11.00am, and a soup and quiz evening on Saturday January 18 at 6.00pm.

The church le are welcome to drop into the coffee morning, which will include a cake stall, raffle and tombola.

For catering purposes anyone wishing to come to the Soup and Quiz should contact either Ann Hufton on 01229 812439 or Margaret Harrison on 01229 466069 by Friday January 17 – individuals are welcome as teams are formed on the night.