A sponsored canal boat pull raised £2,000 towards the £4 million appeal to repair and regenerate Old Hill’s 130-year-old Holy Trinity Church.

Rev Martin Hancock and five church supporters pulled the narrowboat, loaded with a hundred weight of coal, about five miles from Hawne Basin to the Netherton Boat Festival and back in September.

Members of the congregation raised more than £130 towards the total with a bucket collection along the route and the sale of roast pork sandwiches at the basin swelled the total further.

“It took an hour and 40 minutes to reach the festival site - and a bit longer to get back as people were tiring. It also involved two of the team legging it through a 500m tunnel,” said Rev Hancock.

The church has raised £40,000 so far and is hoping to attract a number of grants and match funding to enable the refurbishments to be completed.

The extensive work needed includes a new roof, masonry repairs and an extension of the adjoining church centre for community use.