The project to restore and renovate All Saints’ Church – which has taken over a year – is nearing an end.

The £500,000 project – funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and local supporters – has seen crumbling stonework on the Tudor tower renewed and the construction of a new toilet and kitchen extension.

In May, the discovery of serious rot in the main roof beam of the tower saw the Friends of All Saints, the group driving the project, hit with an additional £70,000 bill for its replacement.

Local fundraising – and additional cash from the National Lottery – covered much of the cost and the new beam has now been installed.

Although it will take several weeks to remove all the scaffolding and complete the snagging list, the church is able to be used again and the Friends are looking forward to are starting their ambitious activity programme.