The culmination of a Whitby Gazette campaign to raise £199,000 for a local landmark ended with a celebration involving more than 500 people and a visit from the Bishop of Whitby.

In 2004 the paper was approached by St Mary's Church in Whitby for help in raising £199,000 to restore the historic 199 stone steps which lead up to the church.

It was suggested that local people, businesses and lovers of the town might like to sponsor a step for £1,000 and then have their names or the names of a loved one immortalised on a bronze plaque at the top of the steps.

Whitby Gazette editor Damian Holmes agreed to run a campaign, and in just 14 weeks the paper had raised the full amount and was still having people clamouring to be involved.