A MYSTERY was uncovered in Portishead on Friday when residents woke to find familiar statues dressed in woolly clothes.

Works of art on the Portishead Art Trail, along with angels and statues at St Nicholas’ and St Peter’s churches were subjected to yarn bombing, also known as guerrilla knitting.

The figures were dressed up overnight by clergy and members of Portishead Church of England, as a stunt to help raise awareness of their appeal to save St Nicholas’ Church.

The church needs a new roof to keep it operational and fundraisers need to find �725,000 to carry out the repairs. They have already raised �275,000 of the target.

Reverend Andy Bryant, team rector, said: “The maintenance of St Nicholas’ is vitally important to ensure the future of this landmark building.

“Its origin as the chapel of the former Nautical School means that as well as a parish church, it remains a living symbol of an important part of Portishead’s history and we do not want the building to suffer the same fate as many of the town’s historic buildings which have now vanished forever.”

People are being urged to sponsor a roof tile for �10 as part of the Tenner a Tile appeal. The names of all contributors will then be entered into a special book, which will be kept at the church for future generations.

The National Nautical School, now part of the Fedden Village gated community, closed in 1983.

Donations may be sent to Tenner a Tile, Portishead Church of England, St Barnabas Centre, West Hill, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 6LN or made on line at www.portisheadparish.co.uk