David Maddock is a man with a mission to restore unique Victorian mosaics at an ancient church in Worthing.

Elders at the medieval St Andrew's Church in West Tarring have for some years been concerned at the steady deterioration of the spectacular feature.

Areas have been discoloured by salt and some have been stained by water coming in through the windows and running down walls.

So far the church has raised about £20,000 towards their restoration, which will cost between £50,000 and £100,000.

Despite the disappointment of being turned down by English Heritage when he applied for a grant, Mr Maddock hopes work will start at the end of next year or the beginning of 2004.

He said salts in the plaster were seeping through and dislodging the small square tiles.

The windows no longer let in rain - but the damage had already been done.

Mr Maddock, chairman of the appeal team, said: "The reason for the discoloration is not clear. It could be the result of an earlier cleaning in the Thirties but we don't know for sure.

"The surface of the mosaics is not as bright as it would have been originally because of the salt coming through. There was a trial cleaning done about three or four years ago, which certainly made it look brighter.

"The mosaics are not as beautiful as they could be."

The mosaics, depicting the 12 apostles, were installed on the north, south and west walls of the nave in 1884 and 1885 by the rector, Dr Henry Baily.

Each apostle is 6ft high and stands within a panel measuring 11.5ft by 9ft and decorated with fruiting palms and stars.

The mosaics were designed by William Butterfield and there are striking similarities between those at West Tarring and in the Basilica S Apollinare Nuovo in northern Italy.

Under the supervision of Butterfield, the work was carried out by a band of Italian mosaic experts and, after completion, became a tourist attraction.

A final mosaic was intended for the wall over the chancel arch, showing Christ flanked by St Andrew and St Peter, but it was never made due to lack of funding.

Mr Maddock has been unable to apply for a National Lottery grant because West Sussex is not deemed "a deprived area" by the Heritage Board.

Fund-raising continues on Saturday, with an English evening in the Old Palace, Glebe Road, West Tarring, starting at 7pm.

Tickets cost £12.50 and can be obtained from Mr Maddock on 01903 262815 or Michael McNamara on 01903 263892.