A 162-year-old village church is set to take a leap into the 21st century with an extension to house a host of modern facilities.

The rector of the picturesque church of St John at Wall, which overlooks the Roman site of Letocetum near Lichfield, Staffordshire, has applied to Lichfield District Council for planning permission for the facility.

He wants to build a room to use as a creche, a meeting place for young people and to offer catering facilities.

The £100,000 extension would also bring the church into line with new provisions under the Disability Act.

The aim is to make the church, which only gained running water 20 years ago, easier to attend for greater numbers of people in the parish.

"During recent years the church has been growing in numbers,' said Rector, the Rev David Beedon. "If this is to continue then we need to bring its facilities up to modern day standards."

Treasurer Jerry Stevens said parishioners were acutely aware of the lack of modern facilities.

"We so need to provide proper facilities,' said Mr Stevens. "It can get quite embarrassing when people come for weddings or funerals and there are no toilets available. It is very off-putting for families who have youngsters. We want to encourage them."

Fund-raising has already started to meet the £100,000 target.

Fred Starkey, at 87 years old one of the church's longest serving members, is anxious to see the extension.

"We cannot afford to stand still," he said. "The facilities are really badly needed."