HEAVENS above, this church needs your love and money - about £150,000 to be exact.

Actor Duncan Preston, of Emmerdale, Dinner Ladies and Acorn Antiques fame, has already added his star status to a special festive-flavoured appeal launched at St Luke’s Christmas Tree Festival in Eccleshill on Saturday to help get a new roof.

The celebrity, who used to go to the church’s youth club along with his brother Alan and to its drama group, was quick to give his support after hearing help was needed.

Mr Preston put in a guest appearance at the church’s Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday when the appeal, which needs between £100,000 and £150,000, went public.

He said: “It’s lovely to be back. The church looks bigger than I remember it and it has carpet now!”

Mr Preston’s acting career started at the church when he used to go along to its drama group.

“Little did I know then when I was in the drama group putting on my first shows where acting would lead me,” he said. “I’ve got very fond memories of St Luke’s.

“It’s very tough at the moment, charities and appeals having to ask people for money, but it’s what they’ve got to do and I’ve no doubt that St Luke’s will do it and will get their roof.”

Over the last two years the church has re-roofed the Chancel at a cost of £50,000 and raised a further £62,000 towards the cost of re-roofing the main part of the church through pledges, donations, sales and fundraisers - but more money is still needed so the church is now reaching out to the local community for their help.

Christmas carols, organ recitals, a performance of Christmas songs and recorder playing were just some of the highlights enjoyed by visitors who flocked to the Gothic-style church, built back in 1848, to see the festival’s decorated trees.

Local businesses donated money and provided some of the trees, along with other trees decorated by different members of the congregation.

Vicar John Hartley said: “After 167 years of keeping its congregation dry and warm, our church roof now needs repairs if we are to continue growing our Church and worshipping God in our present location.

“To accomplish this, we need to raise a great deal of money and it was decided from the outset that we should aim to raise at least half of the cost ourselves before going public with an appeal.

“It was agreed to do this for two reasons - because we couldn’t ask others to give if we hadn’t given ourselves and we needed to show people that the congregation fully supported the project.

“It is difficult to assess the exact amount required to complete this project, but realistically we estimate an amount of £100,000 - £150,000 will be needed.”