A CAMPAIGN to raise £16,000 to help clean and repair organ pipes used at the wedding of James Herriot is to hold fundraising recitals.

Staff at St Mary’s Church, in Thirsk, have been raising money to carry out large scale repairs to the church organ.

In total they need £100,000 to carry out a complete overhaul of the old instrument that is still used today for services.

It was also used for the marriage of Alf Wight, who wrote as James Herriot, in November 1941.

Two years ago the church staff spent £45,000 on repairs and a new electro-pneumatic system for the organ.

However, the 2,091 pipes which form part of the organ are very dirty and they need to be cleaned and repaired with some dating from 1813.

Estimates put the cost of the latest work at around £16,000 but the Organ Restoration Fund is only around £4,500 at present.

To help raise funds organ recitals are to take place at the Kirkgate-based church with David Jackson set to play.

He is to play the organ from 12.15pm to 12.45pm on Monday, October 5, with free entry but it is hoped donations will be made to the fund.

There will also be home-made refreshments on sale in the church crypt on the same day from 10am.