Major repairs to Harwich Parish Church have been put on hold after failing to attract lottery money.

Essential repairs are needed to the spire, buttresses and parapets of St Nicholas' Church - work expected to cost more than £245,000. An application was made for funding through the Heritage Joint Scheme Lottery.

But just before Christmas the members heard the bid had failed.

Churchwarden Margaret Romeril said: "We are very disappointed, but the letter says there was only £20 million available for distribution."

The church has now appealed against the decision and, if this is unsuccessful, members of the 178-year-old church will have to look at other ways of raising the necessary funding.

Mrs Romeril said the work had to be done. She said: "We will be discussing this and will probably have to launch an appeal fund."

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