A £48,000 appeal to save one of the town's most prominent landmarks, Ledbury Parish Church spire, has attracted £10,000 of donations in just three weeks.

The Parochial Church Council has nothing but praise for the generosity of local people.

Alan Pratt, the PCC secretary said: "It has been a good response; not bad at all for three weeks. The money has come from the congregation and town's people. They have responded very well."

The PCC has now taken the decision to press ahead with the repair work by this end of this month, and it will meet the cash shortfall, if necessary, through its own resources, although the appeal will continue.

The work will take up to between four and six weeks.

Mr Pratt said: "We would like the work completed by November, so the spire is weather-proof for the winter."

Architects have identified faults in the 250-year-old spire of St Michael and All Angels Church, and the work is needed to prevent serious structural damage.

Some of the stonework on the spire needs to be repaired to protect the public from the hazards of falling masonry and to keep the spire unaffected by the elements.

The spire is held firm inside by a counterweight hanging from the top.

There is a risk that because of corrosion, the rod holding the weight may break, allowing it to fall and damage the inside of the spire and tower, as well as the bells.

The weight needs to be replaced by a rod joined to cross-trees at the base of the spire, which will be under tension to hold the spire firm.

The medieval spire, which is separate to the main body of St Michael and All Angels Church, is currently fenced off for health and safety reasons.

Donations can be made at the Team Ministry Office, at Ledbury Rectory; through marked envelopes saying "Spire Fund" in the donations chest, inside the church, and also through similarly marked envelopes at Ledbury News, in the High Street.