GETTING a bird's eye view - that was the mission for Mr Bayley, who saw for himself the damage and erosion which has prompted the appeal to raise £23 million to restore the city's Minster.

He showed a good head for heights as he made his way up the scaffolding to inspect the Minster's stonework for himself yesterday.

The huge tasks of restoring the 600-year-old East Front, much of which has not been repaired since it was built, and of releading and protecting the massive glass expanse of the Great East Window, will be undertaken by the Minster Works Department and the York Glaziers' Trust.

The scale of the work involved will mean that more masons and glaziers will need to be recruited.

Afterwards Mr Bayley said: "It is a privilege to share the same view of the Minster that skilled tradesmen over the ages have had. I am astounded by the enormity of the task ahead.

"It's important the stoneyard and glaziers are able to produce work that equals the existing mediaeval craftsmanship, and through the apprenticeship scheme they are ensuring that this expertise continues."

Updated: 10:54 Saturday, December 10, 2005