COME dine with me fundraisers have smashed their �1,000 target for church funds.

Churchgoers at St Bartholomew's in Gourock have been cooking up a treat in the kitchen at a series of dinner parties inspired by the hit TV show.

Guests are asked to make a donation for the complete dining experience and organisers now have a healthy �1,092 in the coffers.

Parishioners Charlie Street and his wife Carol have thrown themselves into arranging the events and have also hosted dinner parties at their Gourock home.

They are thrilled by the amount they've raised.

Charlie, pictured, said: "All the funds raised will go to the general fundraising that is paying for the recent refurbishment.

"The bill was massive as you can imagine, hence every penny or pound matters." The newly refurbished church has now opened its doors to the wider community, including social services who use the church as a local contact centre for troubled children with behavioural issues which takes them away from their families.

There are also plans for more fundraising with a special dinner being planned for staff at Enterprise Childcare.

Carol worked for the organisation for 10 years and when they heard about Come Dine With Me they wanted a slice of the action.

Sponsors for previous events have included Tony Buckley, who also hosted a dinner at Buckley's Firth Hotel and Peak Scientific UK.