A LOTTERY grant of £29,000 has been given to St James's Church, Canon Frome, towards a project to repair its crumbling tower.

The church had been counting on the cash to provide the bulk of the funds needed to carry out works to the 17th Century tower.

The frame on which the tiles are fixed is rotting and tiles are already slipping.

The grant, combined with money from fundraising events, means the church is now only £14,000 off its target of £50,000. Music evenings, fairs and other events have all contributed vital funds to the appeal.

The church plans to apply for a grant from Historic Churches Trust and will also hold other fundraising events, to secure the outstanding money.

Hereford architects Hook Mason will carry out a feasibility study next week to decide what needs to be done and the final cost, before the contract is put out to tender. It is hoped repair work could then begin in the autumn.

Churchwarden Richard Graves said: "It's very good news. I think we're now fairly confident that we will meet our target."

The tower, which dates back to 1680, is the oldest surviving part of the church, although a medieval building pre-dated the present structure, until that was demolished in the mid-17th Century.

One of the tower bells dates back to 1716, but the majority of the church is Victorian, dating back to the rebuilding programme in 1860. It was built in the, then fashionable, early-English style.