PARISHIONERS at Grade I listed Colne Parish Church have been told that council bosses cannot afford to pay for urgent repairs to paving stones.

Peter Nowland, representing parishioners, has appealed to members of the Colne and District Committee to help cover the £7,168 cost of relaying flag stones outside the church - St Bartholomew's - parts of which date back to the 12th century.

He said: "The church is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, building in Colne. It has Grade I listed status and holds a prominent position within the town centre.

"It attracts a large number of visitors, with people coming from as far away as the USA, and is therefore an important tourist attraction in Pendle.

"The main paved areas leading from Church Street to the front entrance of the church are in a poor state. But the church has been running for some years at a deficit and cannot afford to pay for the work."

Mr Nowland said the council was responsible for the maintenance of the grounds of the church because it is a closed burial ground and he appealed for funds to repair the path, which also contains headstones that need to be repositioned.

But at the Colne and District Committee this week members said there was no money in the pot for the works.

Coun Alan Davies, council leader, said: "The main street in Colne needs £124,000 worth of repairs. That is a street that everyone walks down and it will take a number of years to it put it right.

"Under those circumstances I see no possibility of us diverting funds into footpaths that are not a main highway.

"In other places where we have taken over the grounds we have had settlement figures way in excess of £30,000, but we don't get that in the case of Church of England churchyards, so we have to get it out of mainstream monies."

Coun David Robertson told the committee meeting: "I think a lot of the character of the church is that the stones are like that. I realise that it can pose a danger, but there are dangers in all areas of life."

Coun Ian Robinson suggested that the council looks for funding elsewhere for the repairs.

He said: "The church is an important part of the community. There must be money that we can tap into to help."