A RESIDENT of Brentor whose family have farmed in the valley below the tor for 500 years has given almost £1,000 in donations raised at his 50th birthday party to the St Michael de Rupe church repair fund.

Andy Batten commissioned a 4ft high oak model of the Grade I listed church and tor which is also a collection box for his party so people could make their donations.

Last week he presented the model and the £976 raised at the event to Sheila Downs, one of the churchwardens at St Michael de Rupe.

Mrs Downs said the donation was wonderful: 'It really is a truly spirited gesture from someone who loves the tor and it is a huge example to all of us in the village of what can be done in order to create a future fund for the church.'

A desperate appeal to raise funds for the church was recently launched following work to re-point the building and other repair work which had been identified in a survey amounting to £50,000 or more.

Church savings had been depleted and the money secured in grants was only a small percentage of what was needed.

Mr Batten said many generations of his family had farmed in the valley below the church and family members were buried in the graveyard.

'We have a lot of family history connected to that church,' he said. 'I was having a birthday party and the church was short of funds so I decided to ask for donations rather than people giving me gifts.

'St Michael's is a landmark and I hope people will give money to help it out. It takes a real battering from the weather.'

The church is calling for volunteers to join a Friends of St Michael's group so fundraising events can be organised throughout the year.

Landscape and wildlife photographer Colin Sargent will be giving a talk in Christchurch, Brentor, during the evening of November 6 and local singing group Canticorum will be performing in St Michael's on December 6 where there will be mulled wine. Donations for the church repair fund will be welcome.

Anyone who is interested in joining the friends' group can call Sheila Downs on 01822 820382.