The campaign to raise money to repair Haworth Parish Church is still about £10,000 short of its target.

But speaking before tomorrow’s English Heritage deadline, John Huxley, chairman of the church’s Future Group and secretary of the Parochial Church Council, said he remained optimistic for the future.

“We’re around £10,000 adrift at the moment but we’ve got applications in for more money, including one to Bradford Diocese Church Building Fund,” he said. “We’ve had contributions from artist Stella Vine and the Haworth Couldn’t Wear Less calendar project which will prove to be crucial.

“I can’t say I’m confident, but I’m optimistic – you never know what will happen when you’re asking people for their money.”

Before Christmas last year he and other parish church leaders announced they could lose a £100,000 English Heritage grant to fix the church’s badly-leaking south roof unless they raised £65,000 in match-funding before the middle of this month. Cash donations have been flooding in since then.

Mr Huxley said he and his colleagues had discussed contingency plans in case they did lose the grant – which include applying for short-term or long-term loans.

However, he added he hoped this would not be necessary.

Donations to the appeal can be made online at haworthchurch.co.uk, or cheques made payable to Haworth Church Restoration Fund should be sent c/o the treasurer to 17 North View Terrace, Haworth BD22 8HJ.

Mr Huxley stressed the rules stipulate that the wording on the payee line of the cheques must exactly state ‘Haworth Church Restoration Fund’, otherwise the cheques can not be accepted.