MALVERN Hills chiefs are jubilant after securing £1.2m to restore water features on the slopes.

The Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team, in conjunction with the Malvern Hills Conservators - which manages the hills - applied for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Malvern Heritage Project.

And AONB officer David Armitage confirmed yesterday that a £740,000 grant from the fund had been secured.

Funding has also come from the Countryside Agency (£70,000), English Nature (£25,000) and in-kind contributions from Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Spa Association and Malvern Hills Conservators.

"Following the launch of our five-year management plan for the Malvern Hills AONB last month, it's great to have this news national funds will be available to implement important parts of the plan," said Mr Armitage.

"We're especially grateful to the funding partners for their robust support of this project."

The scheme involves 15 water features being restored to their former glory, six cattlegrids installed around the southern Hills and a management plan for Castlemorton Common.

A meat marketing exercise for Malvern lamb will also be undertaken to encourage more farmers to graze their stock on the hills.

A project officer will also be employed to launch several education schemes - including an education video showing children the importance of livestock in the management of the countryside.

One of the water features to benefit is the Tank Quarry Clock in West Malvern Road, north Malvern - the structure of which is owned by Malvern Town Council.

"The town council is very pleased lottery funding has been secured to refurbish this very important site in Malvern," said council clerk Richard Chapman.

"It'll be a tremendous boost for the town when it's completed.

"One of the clock faces hasn't worked for 50 years and it'll be spectacular to see it running again."