CRACKS appearing in the walls in one of Worcester's landmark churches will have to be repaired by ancient techniques after modern methods failed to stand up to the test of time.

St Nicholas's Church's foundations date back as far as 1086 and it has been a continual place of worship ever since then.

"People have prayed there for 900 years and it is steeped in atmosphere," said the Rev Kenneth Crawford.

Even in the late 1980s and early 90s when the building was nearly derelict, Masses were still attended by half a dozen parishioners.

"By 1992 there were cracks in the wall big enough to see the M5 through," said Rev Crawford.

"People were still worshipping in there up until it became too dangerous because the roof might fall in."

In 1992 the Warndon church was renovated and is once again used as a parish church, with a strong congregation. "Usually on a Sunday we have about 60 to 80 people," said Rev Crawford.

However, after a decade, cracks have appeared in the church walls.

The problem with the work done in 1992 is that the materials used were not as flexible as the ancient wattle and daub original. The wooden slat framework of the church does not have the same flexibility to move.

"It has to be like mastic - flexible and able to expand and contract," said Rev Crawford.

The cracks are not as big as they were a decade ago, but one panel of infill has already fallen out of place.

"Some of the cracks are only hair line, but they must repaired," Rev Crawford said.

"The walls are very thick and so they hold a lot of moisture."

The irony is that the modern methods used for the 1992 repairs do not last as long as the ancient technique of mixing wattle and daub.

"When the tower was originally built the fellow who did the wattle and daub produced a rush job and said he would come back to finish it later. But he never did," said Rev Crawford.

"It was 350 years before the first repair was recorded."

Now, St Nicholas's parishioners are raising funds to have the church repaired using the ancient techniques, carried out by English Heritage accredited builders.

The repairs are estimated to cost £7,000 and Rev Crawford hopes work can begin as soon as possible and before winter comes.

The latest in a series of fund-raising events will be an afternoon of cream tea and table top sales in St Nicholas's grounds on Saturday, June 22.