Members of Keighley Shared Parish Church are calling on people to help save the town's church by donating their beer money.

Andrea Foster, says: "I am appealing to the people at the start of this new century to help us repair this 150 year old building so that the church will be here for future generations.

"A gift of the price of a pint of beer from each person would solve our problems."

The home of the Keighley Shared church, which recently confirmed their unity with the signing of a partnership document, is in dire need of repair and efforts have been underway to raise money for over two years.

Andrea says the appeal, which has so far raised about £5,000, has lost momentum and is now being given a new boost. She says: "We're going to have to raise £120,000 in the next two years otherwise the roof's going to come in and we're going to get dry rot."

Andrea hopes the current appeal will get some much-needed funds rolling in as the church is not in a position to pay for the repairs itself. She says: "We have done some repairs on the church but that's come out of our funds and if we do everything out of our funds we have nothing left."

Andrea says the future of the church looks bleak if no money is found. "If we don't do it the church is just going to go to rack and ruin."

Anyone wishing to donate can send cheques made payable to PCC at St Andrew's Church, c/o Andrea Foster, 36 Leach Road, Riddlesden, BD20 5DA. Cash donations can be handed to the church on Fridays between 10am and 11am and on Sundays. They can also be left at the Grapevine bookshop next to the church. The name and address of the donor should be included with the donation.

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