SELEBIANS of the world unite! That's the rallying cry from Selby Abbey fundraisers, who are hoping to strike gold when they take their appeal to the United States this year.

The head of the Abbey's restoration campaign is to contact American people and places that share the town's name, in the hope they will get behind the multi-million work required to save Selby's historic church.

The appeal chairman, Charles Forbes Adam, told the Evening Press: "We are making inquiries on the other side of the Atlantic, and I would like this year to develop links with any people or towns called Selby."

Mr Forbes Adam is hoping to build on historic ties between Selby and the United States. The Abbey's Washington Window includes the Washington family arms, made up of the stars and stripes which now form the United States flag.

Although there are no large settlements called Selby in the United States, the appeal committee is hoping people who share the town's name will be keen to help.

Mr Forbes Adam said: "There is certainly potential. All we need is one multi-millionaire called Selby!"

The appeal committee also plans to launch a statue sponsorship scheme this year, to allow local people and small firms to contribute to the appeal.

Mr Forbes Adam said: "Some of the statues that have been completed look stunning, and that's something we would like to look at. Through individual donations and appeals to trusts, we will do what we can."

The appeal ended 2005 on a high, when English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund made a record £400,000 donation.

Mr Forbes Adam says it is important to keep the money coming in.

He said: "By the end of this year, we would like to be over the £4 million mark. We were at £3 million, and have just got the £400,000 from English Heritage, so that's a wonderful target for the end of 2006.

"The English Heritage news made such a difference, because that just about gets us funding for phase six of the work. We are now starting to get round towards the west elevation, which has already been restored,

so once phase six is completed, we are approaching the home straight."

Phase six will see the restoration of the Abbey scriptorium, where monks used to copy out Biblical, classical and historical texts. The work should start in the spring, and last about nine months.

The Abbey appeal was launched in 2000. The final total required is currently estimated at between £6 million and £7 million.

Updated: 09:59 Tuesday, January 03, 2006