FRESH calls for support for Longwood Tower were made at this year’s “mother of all sings”.

Dr Bert Jindal, president of Longwood Sing, asked for people to put pressure on local politicians to safeguard the tower.

His rallying call came at the 134th annual Lockwood Sing on Sunday, attended by hundreds of people.

the crowd broke into a spontaneous round of applause when it was announced some money had been set aside for the 146-year-old tower to be restored.

But Dr Jindal added: “Having said that, we do need as much noise as possible in the community to say this is valuable to us and is part of our heritage.

“Let them (MPs and Kirklees Council) know, write to them, so we can give them the message that we are alive and well and that this is important.”

The future of the tower has been the subject of debate since an article in the Examiner in July.

Crosland Moor resident David Firth complained to Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford about the rundown state of the tower.

In a reply letter, Ms Mountford said: “As things stand, I cannot find any evidence to suggest that it has any historic, artistic or aesthetic value.”

She has since said she would like to see the tower restored and would be prepared to support groups that working towards that aim.

But, as reported on Saturday, Ms Mountford said people had gone quiet on the issue.

She said: “I must question how much commitment there is to saving the tower if there are no genuine offers to help.

“It seems strange after all the fuss in the press about the tower that no-one is prepared to do anything to save it.”

Golcar councillor Robert Iredale said it would cost about £250,000 to repair the tower – but that would be money well spent.

He added: “I was selling tickets for the sing and people were saying to me ‘You’re not going to let them pull the tower down are you?’

“They are very concerned about it. It’s an integral part of the Lockwood community, it’s part of our heritage – the tower and the sing go hand in hand.

“You just have to look at the number of people who turn out for the sing to see how important it is.”

The hundreds who turned out for the sing enjoyed overcast but dry conditions. Musical director Gareth Beaumont led the Golcar Band in a series of rousing hymns and there was an address by David Prior.

Money raised from programme sales at the sing will go to the Laura Crane Trust, which funds research into cancers affecting 13 to 25-year-olds.