ST Peter's Church in Bath Road, Devizes, is appealing for people to make donations to its building fund.

Over the next three to five years the church faces having to pay out up to £50,000 for repairs.

The chancel apse roof and the nave north facing roof will have to be replaced at a total cost of £20,000, window guards will have to be replaced totalling £5,000 and the same amount will be needed to repair stonework. Other miscellaneous work makes up the remainder of the cost.

Already this year the church has spent £10,000 on repairs to the roof and to the large west window, which was undertaken by the Salisbury Diocese.

John Bradley, secretary of St Peter's Parochial Church Council, said: "Apparently the church was built on an old boat building yard and so the damp has risen."

The church has written to every household on its electoral role but is also appealing for donations.

Cheques to St Peter's Building Fund can be sent to Geoffrey Pritchard at 97 Avon Road, Devizes, SN10 1PT.

The church's new priest-in-charge Father Peter Moss will be licensed at the church on September 8 at 7.30pm.