The Christmas lights are twinkling all over Farnham, but there is one bright star missing this December.

The star which normally lights up the tower of St John the Evangelist Church in Hale during the festive season is nowhere to be seen.

This year the star could not be fixed in place because the tower is out of bounds for safety reasons while the church raises money to repair its masonry, which is crumbling after 180 years. Not only could the star not be installed, the bell cannot be rung at the moment.

The church, a Grade II-listed building built in 1844, requires at least £50,000 to restore the tower. It is asking the public for further support and has set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising half of the amount needed

A spokesperson for St John’s said: “I suppose it’s not surprising after almost 200 years that the tower needs a bit of work, and of course that work comes at a price.

“St John’s is a local landmark. It is a beautiful and much-loved church with a devoted congregation, and many local families have held weddings, baptisms and funerals there. But we can’t manage to pay for the repairs on our own.

“We have had some generous donations and are applying for grants but we need the support of other people in order to save the church and ensure it is there for generations to come.”