A parish church is calling on townspeople to help it race against time and finish of its £100,000 refit in time for a weekend of historic celebrations.

St Paul's Parish Church, Shipley has less than a week left to complete major work to refurbish its interior before the Bishop of Bradford and hundreds of visitors arrive on Saturday to mark 177 years since the church was first consecrated.

To drum up support, the Reverend Colin Penfold is leafletting all homes in the area asking for donations.

It is not the first time, the people of Shipley have been asked to help - when it was built in 1826, people in the town were asked to contribute to the cost and it also got a grant from Parliament.

Wiring that dates back to the 1960s needed to be replaced and the project has included new lighting, a sound system and better access for the disabled.

So far nearly £50,000 has been raised through donations and specific fund raising events.

On Saturday the church will be open from 10am to 4pm for a day of prayer and gifts and then on Sunday there will be a festival celebration of Holy Communion at 9.45am when the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James will preach.

The church will be open again in the afternoon until Evensong at 4pm.

Donations and offers of help can be sent to St Paul's Parish Church, The Vicarage, 47 Kirkgate, Shipley BD18 3EH.