Wonky church spire to be taken down

A church's wonky spire is set to come down after safety concerns were raised.

St Mark's church in the Fenland village Friday Bridge, in Cambridgeshire, will have the upper part of its spire removed after experts found serious structural issues, including weakened bricks.

Churchwarden John Reach said they recommended it be "taken off about halfway up to make it safe" as "strong wind may blow it over".

Fenland District Council approved the planning application on 16 July.

The Grade II-listed church opened in the 1860s and is located just over three miles from the Fenland town of Wisbech.

Reach, who became churchwarden in 1980, said: "The whole building is on the lean."

Talking about the spire itself, he added: "It has been a landmark for such a long time now."

The building was put on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register last year.

Reverend Dr Richard Hines, rural dean for Wisbech Lynn Marshland Deanery, said: "If you take a look outside, you quickly see it's the tower which is leaning right over.

"It is the brickwork which is our big problem."

The district council granted the plans to remove the spire on condition the work began within three years.

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