YOm Kippur prayers at Manchester's Holy Law Synagogue brought the house down after part of the ceiling collapsed, narrowly missing congregants in the ladies' gallery.

A number of chunks of plaster fell during the morning service at the Prestwich synagogue, thought to be a result of a leaky roof, repairs to which were part of its Kol Nidre appeal.

Male congregrants initially thought someone in the ladies' gallery had collapsed after hearing a loud thud above their heads. The women moved to the other side of the synagogue, built in 1935, for the remainder of the day.

Congregant Jacquie Shapiro alerted synagogue security after the first plaster fell. “Thank God no one was injured,” she said. “In some ways we are all very fortunate.”

Synagogue president Laurence Ingleby said on Monday that repairs were being arranged.

“Because of the appeal by the rabbi, there has been a tremendous response by the community for the money to make the repairs.”