A LAST ditch attempt has been launched to prevent the closure of a church known as the Pitman's Cathedral.

Dwindling congregations and spiraling maintenance costs means St Hild and St Helen's Church, in Dawdon, Seaham may have to close.

A meeting was held this week to discuss the church's future, which has been a landmark in the community since 1912.

It has been two years since the church has had a vicar and the people who attended the meeting were told by a diocesan spokesmen that a realistic view had to be taken on the building's future prospects.

Among those people attending was parishoner and the area's district councillor, Charlie Walker.

He said: "We were told that the future looked bleak for the church because of growing costs and the low number of people attending."

The Anglican church, he added, had been built by Lord Londonderry with money also coming from the pockets of pitman at Dawdon Colliery.

Over the years, the church has been closely associated with the mining community and is known in the area as the Pitman's Cathedral. "I first went to the church when I was four years old and it is an important part of this east Durham community," said Councillor Walker.

He added: "We were left feeling in no doubt that the meeting was the first official blow in what will be the final running down and closure of the church."

But he said: "There was, however, an equal determination among those attending the meeting that the church could be saved and could once again become an important place of worship in the area."

After much discussion, those attending were given an assurance that a vicar would be appointed by July, but that he or she would also serve the churches of St John's in the town centre and St Mary The Virgin at Seaham Hall.

"We are convinced that with a good vicar and funds provided for essential refurbishment work the church will thrive once again," said Coun Walker.

No one was available for comment from the diocese last night.