A CHURCH forced to closed after being plagued by bats will reopen after a proposal to stop the creatures fouling the pews was agreed.

Natural England (NE) has granted a licence to St Hilda’s Church, in Ellerburn, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, to block up the main entrance used by the Natterer’s bats to get inside the 1,000-year-old building.

It follows a lengthy campaign by church members to move the large colony, which is given a high level of protection under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

The church has spent nearly £10,000 from local donations to create alternative new homes for the bats – but as it is an offence to disturb a roosting bat – the colony has remained.

The Northern Echo reported on Monday how Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh told the House of Commons how no services had been held at the Saxon church since July due to the volume of droppings and urine stains on the altar and pews.

She said: “Have we not reached a ridiculous state of affairs when bats have greater protection than the congregation?”

NE said it had no wish to see the church and congregation inconvenienced and promised to work closely with them after granting a licence for one hole in the building to be sealed.

But NE – the Government’s advisor on the natural environment – said it will continue to protect the church bats.

“Monitoring work in liaison with local bat groups continues to ensure blocking the hole is not causing harm to the breeding colony,” added a spokeswoman.

Solicitor Jonathan Mortimer, who is fighting to clear the bats from the main building, said NE had granted a conditional licence, which barred the church from blocking all holes.

“The jury is out to see whether the licence will work,” he said.

Churchwarden Liz Cowley said the vast majority of bats had left to hibernate and contract cleaners were lined up to remove this season’s droppings and urine stains at an estimated £3,000 cost.