MONEY raised from sales of a pizza is helping restoration work on a village church.

St Oswald's Church, Sowerby, near Thirsk, has been awarded £2,500 from the Veneziana Fund, which distributes proceeds from sales of the Veneziana pizza in PizzaExpress restaurants across the UK.

The grant was awarded to help restoration of the roof and carry out internal repairs.

St Oswald's church dates back to Norman times and one of its more remarkable features is a spectacular Norman arch.

Martin Hooper, spokesman for the church's fundraising committee, said: "We are delighted to be made a beneficiary of this generous trust.

"The grant will help considerably in boosting our target set for the appeal."

David Sykes, managing director of PizzaExpress, said: "We're delighted that by people enjoying our Veneziana pizza we are able to pass on much-needed funds to help preserve and enhance some of the nation's most impressive and beautiful buildings, like St Oswald's Church."

The Veneziana pizza was established more than 20 years ago to offer financial assistance to help restore some of Venice's finest buildings following the devastating flood of 1966.

For each Veneziana sold, 25 pence is given to charity.

Half goes towards the Venice in Peril fund and half towards helping restore and maintain British buildings which are more than 250 years old.