THE region's most famous staircase is in need of £150,000-worth of renovation.

The 199 Church Stairs lead from Whitby's harbourside to the town's 850-year-old parish church of St Mary's.

They were featured in Bram Stoker's classic horror story, Dracula, much of which he wrote in the seaside town.

Originally built of wood in the 14th Century, the steps were remade in stone in the 1800s.

Now, church rector, the Reverend David Smith, has launched an appeal to save the steps, which are used by thousands of tourists and pilgrims making their way from the harbourside to the church and Whitby Abbey.

"There have been no major repairs to the steps for the past century," said Mr Smith. "We need restoration work on the retaining wall, and many of the steps are worn and will need replacing."

The work needs to get under way this year, said Mr Smith, who believes that, with the opening of a new £5m visitor centre at Whitby Abbey at Easter, the steps could suffer even more wear and tear.

Mr Smith said the steps were left out of an 18th Century Government Act which adopted dozens of historic yards and alleyways in Whitby's old town, and, as a result, have remained the responsibility of the parish church.

He is asking English Heritage to help fund the restoration work as part of the appeal.

The news is the second blow to the steps in a month. Mr Smith has said they will have to be closed at night if vandals continued to target them.

"Fortunately, since I made the warning, the vandals have kept away," he said.