CAMPAIGNERS fighting to ensure the future of a 600-year-old church which loses £10,000 a year say donations of just £1 a week would save it.

They fear their village, Catterick,, is already becoming an “island” after updating of the A1 effectively bypassed it, cutting through traffic. This has come on top of the loss of their bank, post office, butchers, pet shop and a major hotel.

Now they’re determined to turn around the fortunes of St Anne’s Church so it becomes self-sufficient

The Grade I-listed church was built around 1416, largely with stone from a previous building on the site.

A Save Our Church group has been set up and backing is also coming from the community.

Vicar the Reverend Lindsay Southern and the parochial church council have launched the campaign. Member Graham Bannister said: “Our costs have gone up and it is getting harder and harder. We are not making ends meet. Although the Church of England will subsidise us we need to play our part and be self-sufficient. There is a danger for the future

“We are asking people to donate. If we had 200 people giving £1 a week - that’s less than the price of a cup of coffee - that would do it. It is important that the church thrives.”

Essential repairs of around £86,000 also need to be carried out over the next five years and a Friends of St Anne’s group is working on raising money through events and applying for grants.

Fellow church council member Martin Greaves added: “We have had a fantastic response to our appeals and we really appreciate that, but we are only about 25 per cent there.”

The church can be contacted on 01748-811915 or 01748-811462.