RESTORATION work has started on two medieval churches after nearby residents raised a staggering £250,000 to save the crumbling buildings.

But the fundraising campaign will keep going after the bill for work at St Wilfrid's Church, Ribchester, and St Saviour's Chapel, Stydd, rose by £80,000.

Both churches, parts of which are thought to date back to Saxon times, are now surrounded by scaffolding.

Around £250,000 was raised following the launch of the Faith and Heritage Appeal in February 2004 after St Wilfrid's was offered £125,000 by English Heritage for repairs.

But to be given the money -- also for work on St Saviour's in nearby Stydd -- parishioners had to find another £200,000.

Fundraisers exceeded the total by £50,000 but a miscalculation has still left the campaign £80,000 short.

Father John Francis, vicar at St Wilfrid's, said: "Because everyone has already done more than called upon, we are not actually campaigning for money. People quite rightly have a fatigue about it.

"Instead, we will keep the campaign open so if anyone wants to offer something then that's great.

Having raised all that money, there have come to light other elements that need attention. Someone got their sums wrong.

"Having said that, work has now begun on both churches."

Workers are busy re-pointing the tower at St Wilfrid's and trying to restore a Norman wall at St Saviour's that was in danger of collapsing.

Both churches are Grade I-listed and the majority of the largely Norman buildings were built in the 11th Century, with the most recent additions being completed in the 14th.

The least-troubled of the two churches is St Wilfrid's, which also has a leaky roof. Repairs also need to be carried out to secure the tower and keep the Victorian stained-glass window in the tower secure.

At St Saviour's, urgent work is needed to repair the wall as it could threaten the rest of the church.