REAL-LIFE Spidermen, Paul Cooper, left, and Chris Milford, scale the heights to help safeguard an historic North Yorkshire abbey.

They are part of a team of high-rise specialists from a Herefordshire-based firm, Wallwalkers, which has been recruited to tackle loose masonry and overgrown vegetation at the 900-year-old ruin near Helmsley.

They are spending a week, 85 feet up, along with the pigeons, to ensure the famous ruin of Rievaulx Abbey does not have to be encased in scaffolding.

The climbers are working on top of the three-tiered presbytery and transept, which were built in the 13th century.

The area below has been cordoned off for six months for safety reasons.

John Ward, English Heritage works superintendent, said: "The wet winters have taken their toll, with water seeping into cracks and loosening stonework.

"Vegetation roots have a similar effect, creating a potential hazard to visitors. Climbers will check masonry and do some high-altitude weeding.

"It's a perfect solution and certainly beats erecting scaffolding for a month at such an idyllic location."

Picture: Nigel Holland

Updated: 11:59 Wednesday, July 17, 2002