A 13th CENTURY chapel set beside a farmyard in a hamlet near Bewdley which was in danger of crumbling away has undergone a £60,000 restoration programme.

A two-year fund-raising appeal has enabled the work to be carried out at St Giles Church, Heightington.Rev Stephen Owens by the restored stained glass windows at St Giles Church at Heightington

The regular congregation of about 15 was supported by the wider community in raising the money.

English Heritage donated £16,000, a trust gave £5,000 and some of the money came from the sale of land where the Gorst Hill Church stood a number of years ago.

A "private individual" came up with a £15,000 loan to enable the repairs to go ahead and more fund-raising is being planned to repay it.

Rev Stephen Owens said: "The support from the community has been very heart-warming and the church should now be fine for another 40-50 years."

The small chapel, which seats about 60 people, has had its roof and walls strengthened and the masonry around the windows replaced.

The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, will preach at a thanksgiving service at the chapel at 6.30pm on Sunday.