LONG-AWAITED repairs to the 14th century bell tower in Abbots Morton are to get underway in June.

After a 19-month fundraising campaign to repair crumbling stonework at the Grade I St Peter’s Church near Inkberrow raised £41,000, the contract for the work has been awarded to Gloucestershire stonemasons Tewkesbury Conservation Ltd, with work set to begin in a just a few weeks.

The overall cost of the work, which is expected to take three months, is estimated at about £43,000, so the church’s Bell Tower Committee is appealing for another £2,000 to complete the repairs.

Committee chairman Colin Pemberton said he and his colleagues were “delighted” by how much had been raised.

“We always knew that inflation and further deterioration of the stonework could possibly push up the final bill,” he said.

"We're confident we'll raise the extra money needed by the summer.”

As part of the push to raise the final £2,000 a harp concert will be held at the church on Saturday, April 18. Tickets available on 01386 792549 or colinlynnepemberton@supanet.com.

For more information visit www.abbotsmortonbelltower.co.uk.