CHURCHES in Keighley and Cowling are among more than half a dozen across the district to be awarded cash for vital repairs.

All Saints in Highfield has received £3,000 from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT), while Holy Trinity at Cowling was granted £77,700 from the Listed Places of Worship Fund.

The Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard, priest-in-charge at All Saints, said: "Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the local congregation, the majority of the money needed for our repair works had been raised.

"This grant from the YHCT means the work can now be undertaken."

A spokesman for the small congregation at Holy Trinity said its grant would help fund roof repairs after the building was twice targeted by lead thieves.

Churchwarden Brian Ridehalgh said: "We had the lead stolen from the roof in 2011 only two years after we had repaired it following a previous theft.

"It's something of a miracle we have been able to keep the water out for so long and preserve the interior."

In total, seven churches across the Bradford and Craven districts are sharing in about £280,000.

The YCHT, which provides funds for the repair, maintenance and restoration of Yorkshire's churches, chapels and meeting houses, made its awards at a grants committee meeting at the end of last month.

Chairman David Quick said: "We have tough decisions to make as we always receive requests for more funding than we can award, but each of the churches we fund have shown how important they are in the local community, and it is vital that these much loved, important places of worship are preserved so they remain standing for centuries to come."