A NORTH YORKSHIRE cathedral is to host a black-tie gourmet dinner in an attempt to raise thousands of pounds for its roof appeal.

The magnificent surroundings of Ripon Cathedral will form the backdrop to the banquet for 220 guests in September.

It is believed to be the first of its kind in a British cathedral.

The North Yorkshire cathedral dates from the 7th century when St Wilfrid built one of England's first stone churches on the site. It has been a place of worship for 1,300 years.

Organisers hope the £50-a-head event will raise thousands of pounds for the cathedral's £350,000 Nave Roof Appeal.

Campaign manager Margaret Hammond said: "We need to raise £350,000 for the Nave Roof Appeal and we thought this would be one way of achieving it.

"We are hoping it will attract the corporate market. It is not directed at them specifically - we are hoping for a mixed audience - but the response from the corporate market has been good.

"It fires the imagination. We hope the magnificent surroundings will prove popular.

"It will be held in the nave, will be candlelit, and a girls' choir will perform ten minutes before the meal."

The evening will have an "adopt an angel" theme in the form of sponsorship of ceiling tiles for urgent repairs to the nave roof, which has not been overhauled since the 1870s.

Previous entertainment has included opera, theatre and exhibitions, but this is the first time a black-tie dinner has been held.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, July 09, 2003