AN HISTORIC church faces more repair work to secure its future — two weeks after the completion of a £300,000 refurbishment project.

For the tower at Radcliffe Parish Church could collapse at any time due to the “perilous” condition of the masonry.

The damage was discovered by an architect, who was checking the building and found the parapets were broken.

It will cost several hundred thousand pounds to repair the ancient tower.

In the meantime, cordons have been placed around the tower and warning signs put in place to advise people of the danger.

There is no access to the building through the main entrance, with visitors having to enter the church through the vestry.

The church bells are silent as it is not safe for the bell-ringers to climb the tower.

The damage was found after the roof of the church, in Church Green, was replaced.

Parishioners spent years raising money to pay for the work and will now resume fundraising in aid of the tower.

Irene Thirkell, church warden and reader, said: “This is very frustrating for us. People feel as if we are going one step forward and two steps back. We have tried so hard to improve the church, but it seems to be one problem after another.

“Over the past few years we have raised so much money and we really thought we could celebrate the church being restored. That is on hold now until we can sort out the tower.”