A COMMUNITY appeal has been launched for funds to buy and refurbish the Appleby Cemetery Chapel.

The 97-year-old building, in the middle of Appleby's cemetery, is owned by Eden District Council and has been used for storage for several years. Now residents in Appleby have formed the Appleby Cemetery Chapel Committee to secure the building for locals and visitors to use.

Committee member and town councillor Clare Patterson said: "We are planning to make an application for a Heritage Lottery Grant, but in order to do this we need a chartered surveyor's report which will cost £500. We have had a tremendous response for local people and businesses, who are enthusiastic about purchasing the building and carrying out refurbishment, and we have organised a number of fund raising events to pay for the survey.

"Once we have had the survey carried out we will know more accurately the amount we will need to raise to restore the building to its former glory. We estimate we will need in the region of £50,000 to purchase the building from Eden District Council and complete the restoration."

Anyone wishing to help can contact any member of the committee which is made up of Clare Patterson, Ella Langan, Colin Duncan, Judith Sowerby, Ann Thompson, Margaret Roberts, Glyn Jones, Rev. Anthony Clegg and Ian Campbell.