THE cost of restoring the famous 199 Church Stairs at Whitby has been put at £150,000.
The stone steps, which link Whitby's harbourside with the 850-year-old cliff top parish church of St Mary's and Whitby Abbey, have become so worn through hundreds of years of being climbed by visitors and pilgrims, that they are now in a serious condition, says churchwarden John Hempson.
Mr Hemp said that about £8,000 has been raised towards the work, much of it from tourists - but added that, unless the work is carried out, the steps could close for safety reasons.
"That's the last thing we want to do but if the church has to close them for safety reasons, then we will have to do so," he said.
A group has been set up in a bid to win funding from English Heritage and other agencies towards the work.
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