The expertise of Victorian church builders has landed present-day worshippers with a bill that could top £20,000.

Guttering installed inside Saltaire United Reformed Church - one of Bradford's biggest tourist attractions - has found to be rotting away with water seeping through the ceiling.

It means worshippers, including wedding couples, are having to enter the church through a temporary wooden tunnel.

Earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus reported how church trustees had won a years-long battle to restore the 19th century building to its Victorian splendour.

The church - built by Saltaire's founder, industrialist Sir Titus Salt in 1859, had been found to be in need of urgent repairs following a survey in the early 1990s.

A £750,000 appeal to save the Grade I listed building from dereliction - supported by the T & A - was launched in 1993.

Thanks to worshippers who helped raise some £80,000 through donations, a £240,000 award fom the Heritage Lottery Fund, £50,000 in European grants and almost £200,000 from English Heritage the work finally started during the summer.

But church publicity officer Len Morris said contractors had found the building's old guttering had rotted away, causing extensive damage.

He said: "The Victorians in their wisdom put the guttering inside the roof, presumably because it looked tidier than having it outside. But it's led to the ceiling becoming water damaged and as it's very intricate it's going to cost at least an extra £20,000 to put right.

"That's not covered by the money that's been put aside for the restoration work but it's going to have to be dealt with as soon as possible so we're going to have to raise some more money.''

Anyone wanting to make a donation to the church can contact Peter Richardson, chairman of the building restoration fund's fundraising committee, on 01274 581304.

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