AN HISTORIC church needs up to £2 million spent on it to stop it falling into total disrepair, it has been revealed.

And its rector is trying to stop the rot - not before time, according to a conservation body.

The Rev Tim Storey is to issue a discussion paper outlining the problems at Blandford's grade one listed church of St Peter and St Paul.

The cupola needs £160,000 to restore it and the roof up to £200,000 to make it watertight and to prevent further damage to the walls from overflowing drainpipes.

Mr Storey estimates that the total bill - including adaptations to make the church accessible to all - will come to between £1 million and £2 million.

He has come up with ideas on how to raise the cash which will be discussed at the parochial church council.

Dorset Historic Churches Trust treasurer Bob Allan said: "We at the trust have been pushing for a long time to get them to see the urgency of it.

"We have offered a substantial amount - a five-figure sum - which could be doubled to a six-figure sum if they got on with it."

"It's such an important building. It's a really fantastic classical church.

"Blandford has got a church certainly in the top 20 of good churches of the 18th century so the town should be jolly proud of it."

Mr Allan said there were many other bodies, which gave out grants for historic churches such as the national Historic Preservation Trust, English Heritage and charitable foundations.

"Blandford has been dragging its feet. They must not just postpone and postpone - they must get active on this," he said.

Mr Storey said: "This is a fine Georgian building and we want to make sure we do our best to maintain it and make sure it is appropriate for the use of future generations."

First published: November 7