A Ryedale church has been given permission to close its doors for the last time.

St Andrew's Church, in East Heslerton, will be made redundant after numbers dwindled from a thriving 300 worshippers a week in its prime to a congregation of just half a dozen.

Councillors at a meeting last night agreed the building, which was built in the 1880s, should be officially declared redundant and no longer be used for any services.

Instead worshippers can attend services in neighbouring West Heslerton and Yedingham, which form part of the same group of parishes.

Shirley Davies, assistant diocesan secretary, said they had faced an almost impossible decision.

In a letter to Ryedale District Council she said: "Following much painful consideration and prayer, the PCC of East and West Heslerton with Yedingham passed a resolution in favour of the redundancy of St Andrew's."

Anthony Winship, head of legal services at the council, reassured councillors at the central area planning meeting last night that St Andrew's was not facing a bleak future.

He said: "The good news is that the Church Commissioners have agreed that St Andrew's should be vested in the conservation trust."

Mr Winship said this was essential for the church to be maintained but not at the expense of the parish.

Coun Brian Maud said St Andrew's was now in the best position it could be in under the circumstances.

He said: "I see it as a very beautiful building that will be maintained and we should be grateful that there is such a trust fund to take it on."

Martin Sheppard, a spokesman from the Diocese of York, said the church could still have a future after redundancy.

He said: "There is nothing stopping the church being brought back into use by the diocese at some in the future."

Updated: 09:02 Wednesday, March 13, 2002