A campaign to raise £100,000 needed to restore a church organ has received a £5,000 donation.

The Organ Restoration Appeal at St Mary's Church, in Thirsk, was handed the gift by trustees of the Thirsk Infants School Charity.

Jan Marshall, mayor of Thirsk, and John Lazenby, who has been the church verger for 40 years, presented a cheque to church organist Alan Morton.

The pipe organ was built by Postill's of York in 1877 and is now in urgent need of repair.

The original 1877 leather strapping on the main bellows has perished, allowing air to escape.

Cotton-covered electrical wiring must be replaced, metal tuning slides on the organ pipes are rusting and all the pipes are gradually being choked with dust and grit.

More than £100,000 is needed for repairs. Making the organ safe will cost £42,000.

Mr Morton said: "It was music to my ears when I heard about the £5,000 cheque."

Fundraising co-ordinator Julia Smith said: "We are so grateful to Thirsk Infants School Charity. It has given us a real boost.

"We now have £25,000 in the organ fund but we need to raise another £17,000 to make the organ safe."