An appeal is to be launched to prevent further damage to the famous spire of the medieval parish church in Kidlington.

The Rev Anthony Ellis, outside St Mary's the Virgin Church, Kidlington Cracks are appearing in the spire of 13th century St Mary's the Virgin Church, which could require a six-figure sum to repair.

The damage is being caused by iron clamps which were embedded in the stonework about 100 years ago. The clamps are expanding as they rust and are creating splits in the masonry.

Construction engineers are gauging the extent of the damage.

Steeplejacks could repair the damage on the outside, but the problem is more severe on the inside where a stonemason and scaffolding will be needed. The rector, the Rev Anthony Ellis, said: "We don't know how bad the damage is or how much it will cost to repair at the moment, but I'm almost sure it will get worse.

"For the past year, we've been picking up quite large stones, up to eight inches long, that have fallen off the inside or the outside of the spire."

Businesses and community groups in the area will be asked to support the appeal and the parish is considering applying to the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, English Heritage and the National Lottery for funding.

The spire of St Mary's is one of the tallest and best-known in the county. It stands 227ft high and is architecturally significant as it is very slender -- the walls are less than a foot thick.

The parish launched a similar appeal ten years ago to repair the spire. It raised £86,000 within six years.