Leeds oldest place of worship in the city centre will be saved following council approval of restoration work.

Architectural elements at the Grade I-protected St John’s Church on New Briggate will be restored to ensure the building remains a key historic structure.

Leeds City Council has given the green light to work on the clock dials, parapets and spirelets at the place of worship, which was constructed in 1632.

An assessment by a planning expert noted the Jacobean structure holds significant historical value.

According to the document, the structure uses Millstone Grit, with the steeple featuring stonework and wooden ventilation slats for the bell chamber.

The property encompasses the sanctuary and its surrounding burial ground, with boundaries along New Briggate, Merrion Street, Wade Lane and Mark Lane.

The Church of St John the Evangelist was originally commissioned by John Harrison, a prosperous cloth trader and benefactor.

In 1975 the church was made redundant and passed to the Redundant Churches Fund, now called the Churches Conservation Trust.

Temporary supports will be constructed around the edifice, which sits within the Grand Quarter Conservation Area, to allow the restoration work to proceed.

The scheme involves fitting deterrent spikes to protect the external clock dials from future harm.

The planning assessment stated the proposals involve identical replacements to resolve problems uncovered during a specialist survey of the Grade I-listed structure.

Stonework repairs and repointing of the steeple are planned, alongside replacement of worn masonry around the bell openings and strengthening of parapets and spirelets.