AN urgent appeal has been launched to save the roof of a medieval tower from 'imminent collapse'.

Besieged by time and the elements, ‘The Tower’ roof at Gretton near Winchcombe, is now in danger of falling in unless something is done.

Broken Cotswold stone tiles from the grade II listed tower, blown off during storms or in high winds, litter the land round about and the concern is they could kill someone if anyone is struck.

But hope is not lost as villagers have banded together to form the Gretton Tower Trust which launched its appeal at the village hall on Friday, March 24, attended by around 50 people.

The trust needs around £5,000 for a survey and an estimated £50,000 for the repairs to the roof.

Paul White, chairman of the trust, said falling slates had exposed the roof timbers to the elements.

He said, if nothing was done, the roof timbers would begin to rot and, ultimately, the roof would collapse in on itself.

“The worse it gets, the more expensive it’s going to be to repair. A stitch in time saves nine. Rather than watch it deteriorate let's try and save it before it reaches the point of no return” he said.

The aim is to make the structure watertight in time for the coming winter.

The trust is in the process of applying for grants. None so far have been forthcoming but they intend to reapply in the future.

The tower itself is structurally sound with no crack so the focus at the moment is repairing the roof.

Ownership of the tower is in the process of being transferred from the parochial church council to the trust which has charitable status.

Mr White said: "It's iconic, part of the skyline, part of the history, part of the heritage of the village."

"The Tower", formally known as St Philip's Chapel of Ease, was founded in the 11th century, but was closed in 1868.

The Tower is all that remains of this church which according to the guide book for St Peter's Church, Winchcombe (1983) was of Saxon origin.

The grade II listed tower itself is later, dating to the 15th or 16th century.

The British Listed Buildings website says: “This is all that remains of the church which was probably at the centre of the original development of Gretton as a village."

More information is available at www.grettontower.org.uk

To support the appeal visit mydonate.bt.com/charities/grettontowertrust

Donors can also sponsor a tile for £25.