MONKS at Belmont Abbey are praying for protection from their monastery chimney stacks.

Some of them have been judged to be very dangerous and there are fears that during a severe gale they could come crashing through the monastery roof.

The building, next to the Abbey and home to 46 members of the Belmont community, has 14 stacks, which have between one and eight chimneys each.

The Benedictine order has been told that it will cost £75,000 to demolish and rebuild the worst ones, which are leaning and have rotten mortar.

Planning permission

"We just do not have that kind of money, it is a struggle to carry on as it is,'' said the Abbot of Belmont, Father Paul Stonham.

The monks have no alternative but to seek planning permission for all the chimneys to be taken down, said the Abbot.

"Even that will cost us money, but it will remove the danger,'' he added.

An application to demolish has been submitted to Herefordshire Council.

None of the chimneys are in use, the monastery converting to central heating some years ago.

The Abbot said the stacks had been deteriorating for some time but a recent report revealed how dangerous they are. Because of this the community would have to take some action.

Pleas for cash aid from conservation and environmental agencies have failed. The monastery, built in 1858 is a Grade 2 listed building and as such does not qualify.

"We have been round everyone and cannot get a grant,'' said the Abbot.

It was not proposed to launch a local appeal for money.

"With all the hunger and poverty in the world and help needed for the dying, the sick, the homeless and children I do not think people would consider it a priority to put their hands in their pockets for unused chimneys,'' said Abbot Paul.

The bursar, Father John Kinsey said not all the chimneys were originals.

If the monks had the money they would wish to rebuild the ones that were dangerous.

But they did not and the only alternative was to demolish all of them, leaving a few would look 'odd'.

Father Paul said demolition was the last resort and he did not know what would happen if permission was refused.