IT'S going to be a cold, cold Christmas at Bishopstoke's St Mary's Church - unless the parochial church council can find some pennies from heaven.

For at one of the chilliest times of the year and at one of the busiest times for church services, the boiler at the 1890 building in Church Road has given up the ghost.

Rector of Bishopstoke, the Rev Derek Cottrill, said: "We have already had a school Advent service where it was rather cold for the children and their parents.

"This could hardly have come at a worse time. The church is in much more use at Christmas with more people coming to it than usual.

"We do, of course, have a carol service planned and a midnight communion service - all the traditional things you would expect at Christmas time. But it might be very chilly unless we can get the boiler fixed."

Now, the church council is launching a plea for benefactors to help provide some Christmas cheer - and some heat for St Mary's.

The boiler broke down last week and Mr Cottrill said: "We realised it was serious. Although we are still in the process of getting estimates, we know that it is going to cost in the region of £5,500 for a replacement boiler, but we are very short of money.

"Besides the cost of repairing vandalism that we have had in recent years, we also have the ongoing costs of keeping the church running.

"It has become more and more of a burden and this, on top, rather feels like a last straw."

The rector said the church was committed to getting the boiler replaced as soon as possible and that he had been told that if sufficient cash could be raised it was hoped the work could be carried out in time for Christmas.

"We are now just hoping that anyone who has fond associations with St Mary's will find it in their hearts to help."

Anyone wishing to contribute to the boiler fund should make cheques payable to Bishopstoke PCC and send them to the Rev D Cottrill, Bishopstoke Rectory, 10 Stoke Park Road, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, SO50 6DA.