THE £1 million restoration of one of Europe's biggest block fountain sculptures coveted by Hollywood crooner Bing Crosby has got under way at Witley Court.

English Heritage, which is renovating and developing the ruins of the 19th century mansion, launched the massive 12-month works programme last week.

Under the restoration project, the magnificent Perseus and Andromeda fountain will be repaired and brought back to full working order.

Created at a cost of £1 million and unveiled in 1853, it boasts a central plume which jetted more than 100ft into the air and is said to have sounded like the roar of a steam train.

Surrounded by 30 cascading arches and featuring a 20-ton stone sculpture with a 54-metre wide pool, the structure is bigger than the Trevi fountain in Rome.

After a fire ripped through the house, once frequented by Edward VII, in the 1930s, the site was plundered for materials and left to decay.

However, following the launch of restoration works which have also included the creation of a sculpture trail and a new wilderness garden, visitor numbers rocketed last year to more than 60,000.

Among the work which will be undertaken is the restoration of the wings of Perseus' rearing horse which was damaged in the 1960s by a catastrophic lightning strike.

Missing pieces of stonework including Perseus' arms and legs and two chubby sea nymphs on dolphins will also be replaced, along with stone steps and other features.

The tunnels under the fountain will be restored by the end of June. The programme will culminate with the firing of the spectacular water feature in spring 2003.

Stephen Wells, English Heritage project director, said: "This monumental fountain was built as a national showpiece. It deserves to be working and enjoyed by everyone who comes to Witley Court.

"When the project is complete, the fountain will fire a high cascade of 30 arched water jets around a roaring central 100ft plume of water, sending rainbows over the enormous fountain pool - just as it did in the 1860s."