AN appeal has been launched to help save the roof of an Exmoor church which dates to the reign of King Henry III in the mid 1200s.

Iron nails holding slates in place on the rear roof of All Saints’ Church, in Wootton Courtenay, have been oxidising for some years.

But now the situation has become so bad that the parochial church council (PCC) has recognised wholesale repairs will be needed.

Churchwarden Amanda Elliott said the failing nails were causing the slates to slip, added to which the roof timbers were also being damaged by woodworm.

Ms Elliott said she had been keeping a watching brief for the past two years and there had been some rolling repairs.

She said: “But, having been away for 10 days, I can see that more slates have slipped.

“Fund-raising is starting now, before the whole roof slips away.”

Ms Elliott said the added problem of woodworm meant ‘this is not going to be a straightforward job’.

An early fund-raiser will be a Mid-Summer’s Day breakfast cooked up in the village hall on Friday (June 21) from 9 am to 11.30 am.

Ms Elliott said the breakfasts were by donation with all money going toward the church roof repair.

She said: “Why not try the ‘Full Monty’- bacon, sausages, egg, mushrooms, baked beans, tomato, and fried bread or toast.”

The earliest parts of All Saints date to about 1250, but most is 15th and 16th century and the PCC organises regular fund-raising to cover its upkeep.