VICTORIAN railway waiting rooms look set to reopen next year as restoration work awaits final phase funding.

Worcester Shrub Hill station’s north and south waiting rooms been undergoing a sympathetic refurbishment that was due to finish at the end of the year.

However, the £500,000 project has been delayed while a £130,000 grant, the final stage of funding, is secured.

The north waiting room is all but finished, having undergone painting and decorating with work from tiles experts at the Jackfield Tile Museum, Ironbridge, who helped to recreate the original splendour of the 1870s.

Restorers still need to complete repairs to the interior caused by rainwater that got in through the roof.

Structural underpinning of the south waiting room has been completed but it still needs fitting with a ceiling and period windows.

Following these works, the room will be painted and decorated and both areas should be completed in March.

The works have been funded by Worcester City Council, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust.

Rachel Blackman, Network Rail spokeswoman, said: “It will take about three to four months once the funding is in place.”

She said the project’s managers were confident the money would be granted, although there were other funding options should it fall through.