A CHURCH in Weymouth is looking to welcome visitors up its tower so they can look out across Dorset.

Later this year All Saints Church in Wyke Regis will be opening its tower over a number of days to visitors in return for a small fee.

Writing in the Parish News, Gary Hepburn, Churchwarden of All Saints Church, said: “If you have been lucky enough to go up there you will know on a nice summers day that as one of the highest points in the area you can see views across to Lulworth, Portland, Hardy’s Monument and down towards West Bay and beyond.

“We have been limited in terms of health and safety allowing people to go up to the top of the tower in recent years and so very few people other than those doing essential maintenance have been up there.”

He explained: “Churches throughout the county are now opening up their towers so that people can see the views and also to provide a small stream of extra income.

“Our insures have now offered detailed advice and guidance on how we can now safely undertake tower tours and so we hope to do this later in the year with a limited number of days each year when tower visits can be booked in advance on the parish website.

“There will be some health and safety arrangements and you will generally need to be fit and well as it’s a long climb up the staircase.”