A door dating back to Norman times is being re-opened to enable services to be held in a village church.

Hovingham church, in North Yorkshire, has been closed for six months because of the risk of masonry falling on the congregation, but now hopes are high that restoration work costing £15,000 will start shortly.

Since the church has been closed, services have been held in the village's Methodist church, but in an effort to worship at the church while work is carried out members have decided to use a Norman doorway.

The doorway, which has not been opened in decades, leads to the chancel and worshippers can enter the church without risk of being struck by falling masonry.

Peter Moonlight, who has been instrumental in raising funds for the repairs, said: "It has a wooden ceiling so the insurance company says it is safe to use.

"People of all denominations have rallied to help and everyone has given tremendous support to our fund-raising events."

The appeal to restore the church's ceiling has brought the village of Hovingham together and repair work is expected to begin in February.

One of the latest boosts to the appeal has come from the children of the village school, who raised £340 with a sponsored walk.

A punch and promises night held in the village hall raised £3,000, which has taken the appeal total to more than £13,000.

Chefs in the area are also raising funds for a variety of charities by posing in a 2003 calendar which has been produced for the area.