CHURCH-GOERS are fundraising to repair a damaged Lake District church.

St Michael and All Angels Parish Church at Hawkshead is a Grade One-listed building in serious need of restoration.

The church's bell tower needs £70,000 to be spent on it in order to fix the roof and water damaged walls.

Members of the church are getting involved in a project to secure the funding necessary and are seeking the support of the community, local and national trusts and visitors to the church.

The tower is the oldest part of St Michael's, and the bulk of the building has existed in its present state since the 16th century.

Dawn Bonham, who is head of the fundraising project, really wants people to get behind the campaign.

"It's hugely popular as a tourist destination," she said. "Historically it's got a lot of value.

"We get visitors coming in and wandering about and enjoying the peace and quiet."

The church's vicar, the Rev John Dixon, said that the amount of money needed is 'eye-watering' but he hopes people get behind the campaign as he believes the building is hugely important for Hawkshead.

"It has a special place in the hearts of people all over the world," he said. "It's a very beautiful building. It's a very ancient building. Hawkshead itself gets lots of visitors and it's a really special part of Hawkshead."

Mr Dixon said it was time to take action after receiving architectural reports although he and worshippers had been aware that the tower needed repair work doing for some time.

"We now need to do something about it," he said. "We require people's generosity and support to keep the church going."

As well as applying for grants from organisations like the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ms Bonham is also setting up a Just Giving page and giving people the option to buy a 'virtual tile'.