Church bid to repair WWII damage

Four pinnacles on the tower are in desperate need of repair

A church in Norfolk needs £150,000 of work to repair shrapnel damage inflicted on it during World War II.

The St Nicholas' Church Preservation Trust said four pinnacles on the tower in Great Yarmouth are so fragile they may need to be dismantled.

The trust has made a third application to English Heritage for a grant.

Two previous funding applications to repair the pinnacles - which were hit by incendiary bombs gutting the church in June 1942 - were unsuccessful.

The 12th Century church was restored in the 1950's and re-opened in 1961.

Paul Davis, from the St Nicholas' Church Preservation Trust, said: "They've been patched up over the years and we've come to the point where that's no longer possible anymore."

The pinnacles on the church are crumbling so much there are health and safety fears about them.

Mr Davis said: "I should think the last thing English Heritage would want is for us to dismantle them."

The church is believed to be one of the largest parish churches in the country and Admiral Lord Nelson is amongst those who have worshipped there.