YOUTHS are risking death by starting fires at a 600-year-old church as they enjoy regular boozing sessions there.

They gather in the porch at St Mary’s Church, in Thirsk, on most weekends to drink alcohol and to socialise.

But they often light fires there leading to fears it could cause the church built between 1420-1480 to burn down.

Located at the end of Kirkgate the building is at the edge of the town and it is not passed by many people on a night.

The porch is not overlooked by nearby houses either giving the youths a secluded area to hang about in and cause trouble.

The problem of the youths has been ongoing for several years and it is a regular source of irritation for church users.

Thirsk Town councillor Alan Morton, who plays the organ at the church, said: "It’s gone beyond a joke.

"Every Sunday morning there are empty bottles of beer and empty alcohol bottles in boxes in the porch that must be picked up.

"They kick the netting off the floodlights at the church and then turn them around so that they can’t be seen.

"Sooner or later something will happen there as they are lighting fires in there too. We have already reported it to the police."

He added that putting metal gates across the porch entrance to stop the youths getting in could be a solution.

Coun Morton said this might not prove a popular idea as the church was happy for tramps to sleep in the porch occasionally.

It is one of several areas of Thirsk which local residents regularly complain about in regard to anti-social youths meeting and drinking there.

The Anglican church attracts thousands of visitors each year and vet Alf Wight, who wrote as James Herriot, married Joan Danbury there on November 5 1941.

Inspector Tim Osbourne, of Thirsk Police, said the police community support officers had stepped up patrols in that area.

He said the police had done a lot of work in that area as they knew there were problems which they were dealing with when they came up.