TWO steeplejacks proved their heads for heights yesterday when they scaled one of the tallest churches in York.

The pair climbed to the pinnacle of the 154ft spire of St Mary's Church, in Castlegate, formerly the home of the York Story exhibition.

They were carrying out a photographic survey of the masonry and used a bosun's chair to manoeuvre up and down the spire.

The photographic survey by Edinburgh-firm Northern Steeplejacks marks the start of a programme of maintenance work on the building during the winter by York Museums Trust.

The trust's building services manager, Des Mahon, said: "The sight of the two steeplejacks working so high up the spire is quite a spectacle."

During the summer, the church was used to house the BBC Walking With Beasts exhibition, which closed at the weekend.