A HEREFORDSHIRE church that attracts thousands of visitors every year has been saved from disrepair.

In the autumn of 2015, the lead roof of St Michael and All Angel’s Church’s bell tower came away from its fixings and had to be removed for safety.

A temporary felt roof was put up to protect the church, but it was placed on Historic England’s heritage at risk register.

This lists the UK’s cultural heritage assets which are most at risk of deterioration, ruin, and eventual loss.

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The church’s bell turret has now been redecorated and has a new lead roof thanks to Mike Gammon from Knighton-based firm M V Gammon Ltd and the expert management of historic building consultant David Arnold.

St Michael’s receives thousands of visitors each year, due to its location next to Croft Castle, a National Trust property near Leominster.

The church is not managed by the National Trust however.

It is maintained by the local parochial church council, who are also responsible for St Leonard’s Church in Yarpole.

Churchwarden Barbara Nurse has led the £100,000 project since 2017, assisted by grant fundraiser Hannah Vernon.

She said: "As a church community, we are absolutely delighted with the work on our wonderful building.

"I’m very impressed by the standard of workmanship and the respect that Mike and his crew gave to our historic building.

"We hope lots of people will come and visit it now that the scaffolding is down."

Fundraiser Hannah Vernon said: "Historic churches are crumbling around their congregations and it’s not easy to raise the huge sums needed to repair and maintain them.

"I’m particularly grateful to the National Churches Trust for their financial support and encouragement over the last few years – without them we’d still have a long way to go.’

Historic building consultant David Arnold said: "After having had its lead covering removed due to failing fixings, grants have enabled the roof of the cupola of this grade I listed church to be recovered with sand cast lead.

"This means that it should last for over 100 years which will be a great relief for the church council."