DONATIONS have flooded in to to help repair a historic organ used at the wedding of Queen Victoria.

St James' Church in Blake Street is appealing for £5,000 to carry out repairs to its organ which was originally built nearly 200 years ago.

A defective joist in the organ has led 'to all sorts of problems', says organist Mark Latimer, which can only be fixed with significant funding.

The organ is of great historic interest having been built originally for the Chapel Royal, St James' Palace, London in 1837.

It was used at the wedding of HM Queen Victoria to Prince Albert in 1840 and on many other royal occasions before coming to Barrow in 1869 to the new St James' Church which was nearing completion at that point.

Mr Latimer said that around £5,000 is needed to carry out the repairs, which will go directly towards correcting the problem to benefit future generations.

To help fund the costs, Mr Latimer launched a Just Giving page which has already raised more than £600 towards repairing the organ.

If you would like to make a donation to help repair the church's historic organ, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stjamesorgan.