The owners of a vacant church are considering several offers to turn it into a community centre.

St Columba Church in Thorpe Road, Masham, near Ripon, has been empty since August 2002, and is on the market amid complaints it is becoming an eyesore.

Work has been carried out on the roof, creating hopes that a there could be a change of owner.

The church is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, which is considering the offers.

A spokesman for Leeds-based property agents Sanderson and Weatherall said they would be managing the building until it was sold.

Recent work on the roof had been carried out after gale damage, and a broken window had also been boarded up.

Last year, diocesan officials put forward a planning application to pull down the church, replacing it with two detached houses.

But they were refused permission by Harrogate Borough Council, whose planners pointed out that it was council policy to replace a church with premises that had a community use.

The agents say the building could serve several functions - including a community hall, scout hut or doctors' surgery.

Masham Parish Council did not object to the housing plan, but local residents protested that the houses could prove overbearing. They also expressed concern about road safety.

The diocese has been told by the borough council that it must show there is no viable prospect of the premises being retained as a church or alternative community centre before other uses will be considered.

Church leaders said existing churches in Bedale and Leyburn have been "satisfactorily serving the community since closure of St Columba."

Masham Parish Council chairman John Ellis said an idea had been floated for some kind of community use but it was too early to say what form this would take.

Currently the parish council is looking into the possibility of grant money.