St Mary's Church, in Ingestre, was closed three years ago after the insects were discovered.

The Death Watch Beetle larvae live in the timbers feeding on the wood for up to 10 years before turning into beetles.

The second phase of a £700,000 restoration to repair the damaged wood is due to start next month.

Damaged timbers

The work is expected to finish in August.

Work on dismantling the 17th-Century church has already been carried out.

The new phase will involve putting steel reinforcements into damaged oak timbers.

More than £100,000 still has to be raised to complete the project and a programme of fundraising events has been organised.