A HISTORIC Winchester church tower needs re-cladding after woodpeckers discovered it is a good source of food.

A temporary blockage has been made but a permanent solution to stop the birds getting in will require scaffolding at St Andrew’s church at Chilcomb.

The annual gathering at the church, organised by the Friends of St Andrew’s, will be held next month.

The evensong will be held at 3pm on Sunday June 21 with a social gathering afterwards in a village garden.

The guest preacher will be the Rt Rev David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke and former vicar of Christ Church in Winchester.

The friends’ annual accounts show an excess of income over expenditure of £6,055 last year.