PICTURED from Turners Tump by our photographer Steve Cassidy, this is St John the Baptist Ruardean church – arguably the Forest's oldest – in its full scaffolding glory.

Work started on the historic church in March after an eight to 10 metre long crack developed in the 180ft high spire.

Andrew Tyler, who has helped co-ordinate the work says metalwork is needed to 'pull the spire together' and will continue until September at a cost totalling a quarter of a million pounds.

In the meantime, the church, believed to date back to 1111 (mind you the spire wasn't put up until the 1300s, so is a relative youngster), is celebrating its 900th birthday at a festival on June 25.

The church is open from 10am to 4pm with lunch from 12 noon. Cinderford band will be performing from 7pm to 9pm. The festival continues on Sunday (June 26) with a peal of bells, strawberry teas and songs of witness.