A CAMPAIGN has been launched in a bid to raise more than £60,000 towards repairs to the roof of St Michael's Church, Helston.

Much-needed repairs to lead roofing at the parish church will cost in the region of £114,000.

English Heritage has said it will provide grant funding of £52,000, provided the chur-ch comes up with the rest of the money by the end of the year.

Helston rector, the Rev David Miller, who is nearing the end of a similar fund-raising drive in aid of Wendron Church roof, has now mounted a campaign to help save the Helston premises from falling into disrepair.

He is hoping more people will join the church's "500 Club", in which members make regular donations towards maintaining the fabric of the church, and that the community will be keen to organise and support special fund-raising events during the year.

He said: "I have been so heartened by the tremendous response from people in Wendron and I hope we can do the same again in Helston.

"We are faced with raising a very large sum of money, which would be difficult for one or two people, but can be achieved by sharing the burden.

"I know people value this building, and its place in the community, and I think they will respond to the appeal."

Although the main roof of St Michael's is in reasonably good condition, lead roofing on some of the porches is in need of repair.

"There have been a number of leaks in recent years and experts have advised the work should be carried out.

Mr Miller said: "There aren't any leaks at the moment, but it is a question of getting the work done before it becomes a serious problem.

"There are jobs that need doing inside the church, but there is no point doing any interior decoration until we get the roof sorted out."

Some £50,000 has been raised towards repairs to Wendron Church roof through a series of community fund-raising events as well as several grants, including one from English Heritage.

The work has been delayed because tenders for the job have come in higher than the original estimated cost, but Mr Miller said English Heritage had granted the church an extension and he was hopeful of securing the additional funds.

The rector repeated his thanks to everyone in the local community who had supported the appeal, including The Gables garage, at Trevenen, which had raised a total of £560 through a customer loyalty card initiative.