THE oldest parish church in Chippenham could burn to the ground because the gates are too narrow for a fire engine to get through, says vicar Rev Simon Tatton-Brown.

He said St Andrew's Church, in the Market Place, is being forced to seek approval to widen the entrance by moving a gatepost.

"The main entrance to the churchyard is too narrow to admit a fire engine," he said. "Not only is the church at risk, but also other properties are.

"The fire brigade would be hampered in any attempt to fight a fire in some of the buildings if they had to gain access from the churchyard side."

Twelve years ago, Rev Tatton-Brown was rector of a parish where the church was destroyed by fire.

He said: "The morning after the fire the chief fire officer said to me 'It would have helped if I had been able to bring a fire engine into your churchyard'. The gateposts at St Andrew's were built to take a horse and carriage not for today's emergency service vehicles."

Rev Tatton-Brown said the matter was highlighted last year when a fire crew carrying out routine checks on the church, which dates back to the 12th century, was unable to get a fire engine through its gates.

The work is expected to cost £7,000. The Parochial Church Council is appealing to its Market Place neighbours to help pay for the work and an application is also being made to North Wiltshire District Council for partnership funding.