Churchgoers in Dines Green, Worcester, are desperate for funds to help fix their leaky roof.

Members of St Michael's Church, Burleigh Road, have made a plea for the community to help them raise the £40,000 which is needed to repair the roof and build a toilet for the disabled.

The Rev Robin Charles, who has been based at the church since 2004, said that they have had to use buckets to catch water dripping through the ceiling.

He said: "The situation is now no longer urgent, it is actually desperate.

"The building was built in the 1960s and it has a flat roof. Over the years it has been causing us problems and it has now got to the stage where the ceiling is really suffering.

"When it rains it leaks more and more. Temporary measures are no longer working. I fear it probably needs completely replacing.

"We're a small congregation and some are elderly. We have not been able to afford that kind of money."

Before Christmas Mr Charles gave each member of the congregation £5 and asked them to come back and show him how they had invested it.

He said: "Some of the ladies used their £5 to hold a coffee morning at St John's Library. It was a great success.

"They brought back not only their original £5 but the money they had raised selling the tea, coffee and cakes."

On Pancake Day, Tuesday, February 28, the church is holding Pancake Praise, where people sing songs before tucking into pancakes that mark the start of Lent.

On top of these efforts members of the church are organising a summer fair for June and also an autumn fair for October.

Anybody who wants to help fix the leaky roof can call the church on 01905 339416.