WORSHIPPERS at All Saints Church in Bromsgrove are rejoicing that major restoration work to repair its crumbling tower is set to be completed today.

The scaffolding which had encased the tower for several months has been removed following the work to replace eroded sandstone on the balustrade, pinnacles and tower windows.

An appeal to raise the cash for the work was launched in July 2000 and work began this May when the web of scaffolding went up.

The repairs have cost about £63,000.

Apart from many individual contributions the church received donations, bequests and grants from among others Bromsgrove District Council, the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, Len Giles Trust, Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust and the L G Harris Charitable Trust.

Churchwarden Tessa Carrick from Upton Warren, who masterminded the appeal and who "grabbed the nettle" to get the work started, said completion of the work will signal the start of ten days' celebrations.

A service to mark the restoration, which should see the tower able to withstand the elements for 50 years or so, may be held in the New Year.

"It got so bad towards the end quite large pieces of stone were falling off the church," said Mrs Carrick.

"We had known for some time the work had got to be done but it was delayed because of a lack of money and people answering the rallying call to get it started."

A fundraising bazaar is set for this Saturday in the Church Hall in Burcot Lane at 2pm.

And on Sunday 2nd December at 10am a toy service will be held in the church followed at 6pm by a candlelit carol service. The toys will be donated to needy youngsters.