A DATE is in sight for restoration work on Little Malvern Priory to begin, following a major fundraising campaign.

Over the last two years, Friends of Little Malvern Priory have raised £194,000 to restore the 830-year-old church.

An additional grant of £75,000 from English Heritage means the project has reached a stage where essential repair work can begin.

However, because the church is located next to Little Malvern Court, work has been postponed until July to allow planned visits and events on the estate during early summer to go ahead.

Various work will be carried out on the Grade I listed building, including restoration of the 100-year-old roof, the timbers and the stonework. The work is expected to last 16 weeks.

Jeremy Webb, honorary secretary of the parochial church council, said: "We are not stopping the fundraising as we need to make sure we have enough money. You never know with these old buildings what extra work may spring up."

Since the fundraising began there has been the additional discovery that the east window needs completely restoring, this means that more money will need to be found.

The extra work has not been accounted for in the original time scale.

Because of the window and the expectation that other repairs may crop up, fundraising is continuing with a garden experts day.

Challenge for Garden Experts takes place at York Hall at Malvern Girls' College on Saturday, April 5.

Activities will include Question Time, where visitors can quiz a panel of expert horticulturists.

It will be followed by light refreshments, where everyone will have the opportunity to individually ask the experts any questions they may have.

Entrance is £6 and for tickets ring 01684 572203.